Daughter of Sheena (7)

Behnaz Zarrabizadeh

Daughter of Sheena-7

Memories 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

Chapter Four
Days elapsed One after another. Sometimes Samad would come to see me in tandem, but sometimes he didn’t appear even month to month. Country was in chaos and counter-imperial demonstrations had been reached to villages. Spring ended. Fall arrived and ended too. Cold and frost winter also was passed through.
In the absence of Samad I would completely forget him sometimes, but as soon as he arrived, I would remember that as if something is going to happen between me and him. And I was worried by this thought, but my father’s extreme attention to me would make me delighted and I would forget everything very soon.
Few days before New Year, my mother had cooked ample dinner and invited the family. The entire village knew my mother as a very good housekeeper. No one in Qayesh had her cooking skill. She was so kind that everybody would call her "Shirin Jan” (means: the dear sweet).
That day, my sisters and my sisters-in-law had come to our house for helping.
Samad’s family also had been invited by my mother. At sunset, we noticed a number of people were walking, dancing, and reciting on the roof of the room, where we had sat. There was a trapdoor on the center of ceiling that all the rural houses had one of them. "Agha Samad and his friends are on the roof," children came to the room and said. We saw a bundle, which was tied to the rope, was hung through the trapdoor into the room, right above Korsi (1) , as we had sat and listened to the sounds.
A few of my friends were invited to the party. "Come on, Qadamkheyr, take the bundle." They clapped and said. Still I didn’t believe that Samad is groom and this party has been held for me, the bride, in accordance with tradition. So, I didn’t move and said: “You take it.”
One of my friends took my hand and forcefully pushed me over the Korsi and said: "Hurry up." There was no choice; I went up on Korsi to take the bundle. Samad pulled on the rope, as if he had a joke with me. I had to stand on my toes, but Samad pulled on the rope upper again. I heard the sound of his laughter through trapdoor. "Now, I’ll show you."I said to myself. I bent and put my foot on the ground, so that Samad thought I’m going to come down. Samad, who had thought I haven’t liked his act and I don’t want to get the bundle, loosened the rope as much reached over my head. In the blink of an eye, I turned and clutched the bundle in air. Samad, who had lost the game, loosened the rope more. Guests clapped for me. They came forward, untied the rope joyously, and opened the bundle in the center of room.
Again, Samad had spared no expense. He had bought me blouses, pants, skirts and scarves which were all the fashion, and expensive and chic fabrics that surprised everyone.
My mother also had bought Samad some things, such as shoes, underwear, socks, shirt, pants fabric, soap and sugar-candy. She brought and put them into the very bundle. Then, she knotted the bundle and tied it to the rope which was hung from the ceiling, and said: "Tell Agha Samad to pull the rope, Qadamkheyr."
I went up Korsi, but I didn’t know how to call him. This was the first time that I wanted to call him. First, I pulled the rope a few times, but as if no one took notice of rope. They were dancing and singing on the roof.
"Come on, Qadamkheyr! Call him now." My mother said continuously. Inevitably, I called: "Sir ... sir ... sir ..."
I heard my vibrant voice. My whole body was frozen because of embarrassment. I heard no answer. Pulled the rope again and shouted: "Sir ... Sir ... Agha Samad!"
My heart was throbbing severely and I was breathing hard.
Through the trapdoor, Samad bent into the room, when heard me. I saw his face. He was looking at me with surprise. That look and his kind face made my heart pounded more. I pointed to the bundle. He laughed and pulled the bundle up joyfully.
On the roof, Samad's friends were clapping and dancing. Then, they came down and went into a room where the men had sat. After dinner, families talked about wedding ceremonies.
The next day Samad's mother came to our house and invited us for lunch. "Qadamkheyr, go to your sisters and sisters-in-law houses and tell them that lady Galin has invited all of them for tomorrow lunch,” my mother called me and said.
I wore my Chador and went toward my sister's house. I saw Samad in the up alley. A basket was over his shoulder. He became very happy when he saw me. He smiled and stopped and put the basket on the ground. “Hi!” he said. For the first time I answered, but it was like I had done a great sin, all my body was shaking. I escaped, as always.
My sister was in the yard. I told her my mother’s message. “Tell to our sisters and sisters-in-law, too." I said. Then, I ran for my life. I would know Samad was following me in the alleys now. Before being found by him, I wanted to go home. On the way, I saw my uncle. I pointed him to stop. "What's wrong with you, Qadamkheyr? Why are you so paled?" he stopped and said.
"Nothing,” I said, “I’m in a hurry. I want to go home." My uncle reached his hand and opened the car’s door and said: "Get on, I’ll take you home." I accepted soon and got on. As we were passing the curve, I saw in the wing mirror that Samad has stood in the up alley and was looking us surprisingly.

1 . A Korsi is a type of low table found in Iran, with a heater underneath it, and blankets thrown over it. It is traditional furniture of Iranian culture.

To be continued…