Daughter of Sheena (31)

Behnaz Zarrabizadeh

Daughter of Sheena-31Memories of Qadamkheyr Mohammadi Kanaan
Wife of Sardar Shaheed Haj Sattar Ebrahimi Hajir
Memory writer: Behnaz Zarrabizadeh
Tehran, Sooreh Mehr Publications Company, 2011 (Persian Version)
Translated by Zahra Hosseinian

Babies woke up by the sound of door opening and ran toward Samad. He hugged both of them and came into kitchen. A small nylon bag was in his hand too. He said hello. I answered him in a displeased mood. He held up the nylon bag in front of me and said: “Take this, please!”
He kissed babies continuously and said terms of endearment to them. I was not on speaking terms with him. I said: “Put it on the cabinet.”
He said: “No, I like you take it from my hand.”
I took the nylon bag reluctantly. A purple scarf was inside it, a latest fashion big wooly one with large paisley patterns. First I didn’t say anything, but I remembered Sheena’s words, out of blue. She always said: “Whenever your husband buys something for you, thank him; even if you didn’t like it.” So, Involuntary I said: “Thank you. These are expensive.”
I wore the scarf. He laughed and said: “You look your best in it. How pretty you look!”
I did forget that I was angry and really wanted to quarrel with him. He said: “Are you ready to go?!”
I said: “Where?”
He said: “Park.”
I said: “Right now?! You must be joking! It is getting dark.”
He said: “Qadamkheyr! Don’t bother me. Not throw tantrum! Tomorrow, when I go, you’ll feel sad.”
I did not say anything more. I placed cutlets in a food container and put vegetables, pickle, spread, bread and a vacuum flask all into a big basket. I got ready and wore the scarf. I stood in front of mirror and glanced on my reflection. Samad told the truth, I looked my best in scarf.
I said: “Thanks! You buy a good thing.”
He said, as he was dressing babies: “Intentionally I bought a big wooly scarf. It’ll completely cover your head and ears when it gets cold.”
It was supposed a friend of him, who was a pharmacist, picked us up. They had a car. Shortly after, they arrived. We got into their car and went out of town. It was a long way, but finally we arrived in front of Ghahraman garrison. Samad got out of the car and went into garrison. Pharmacist’s wife had hugged Masumah and said words of endearment to her. They had been married a few years ago, but were infertile. It had been quite dark when they allowed us to go into garrison. We looked for a little until found a good place below some old poplar tree. We spread a blanket and sat down on it. There were some lamp-posts around which had lightened there.
It was autumn and dry and yellow leaves had scattered on the ground. The wind was blowing and would move the branches. It was cold. Pharmacist’s wife threw her Chador over my babies. When I brought vacuum flask out of basket and was pouring tea into cups, the electricity got off suddenly and everywhere got dark,.
Samad said: “Good God! I think it is the state of red alert.”
In that darkness we couldn’t see anything. We waited a little, but heard neither sound from air defense nor the siren for the red alert. Samad brought out his flashlight and turned it on and put it on the centre of blanket. We drank teas. They had become cold then.
The wind would blow within trees, wail, and scatter remaining leaves around. The rustle of leaves, which were around us, was terrifying. Softly, I said to Samad: “Let’s get up and go. In this darkness, maybe an animal attacks us.”
Samad said: “Don’t talk about these things before my friend, it makes me embarrassed. Look how comfortable his wife has sat there and plays with babies. You’re a mountain woman.”
Around us was very quiet. Sometimes the howl of a dog or wolf was heard from distance. The wind would blow and the electricity had got off. We even couldn’t see each other properly. Fumbling, me and pharmacist’s wife together readied dinner and set the spread. Khadija had sat beside me and Masumah was in the arm of pharmacist’s wife. Khadija was shivering with cold. I didn’t understand how we ate our dinner. I prayed that we go soon; but Samad and his friend were busy talking with each other. Doctor’s wife also had sat unworried and would talk with me. Whatever I did, I couldn’t concentrate. From behind trees I thought a dog or wolf come out and will attack us. On the other hand, it was a military area and more dangerous than elsewhere if the state of red alert happened. I shivered with cold. Finally, our men accepted to go. We gathered our things and got into the car. It was then that I breathed a sigh of relief and was busy talking with doctor’s wife.
Reaching home, babies had fallen asleep. I put them in their beds and changed their clothes. Samad went into the kitchen and began washing the dishes. I also went into kitchen. Samad turned, looked at me, and said: “Was it fine, honey?! Did you have a good time?”
I wanted to say: “Very much!” but bit my lips and took the Abgoosht which was left over from noon. That day I had not eaten lunch or dinner properly. My hands and feet felt weak and were shaking of hunger.

To be continued…