Daughter of Sheena (27)

Behnaz Zarrabizadeh

Daughter of Sheena-27
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 XII
Later, we moved from that house and rented another one in the Honarestan Street. Masumah fell sick at the moving time. Second day in the new house, Masumah was so sick that we had to take her to the hospital. Recently Samad had sold Dyane. So, without having a car and with two little babies, comings and goings somewhere was very hard for us. Around noon we returned from hospital. Samad took us to the street near our house and because he had some works to do, then, got a taxi and went. Masumah was in my arm. Khadija had taken my Chador by her hand and was walking and nagging. She also wanted me to hug her. With one hand I had held Masumah and her nylon bag of medicine; with another one I had taken Khadija’s hand; and with my teeth I had bitten my Chador. I reached home with such a difficulty that you would never believe. I brought the keys out of my bag difficultly and inserted into the lock. The door wasn’t opened. I turned the key again. It had been unlocked, but the door wasn’t opened. It was like someone was in and had locked the door safety latch. I knocked the door several times. I feared. I knocked the door of neighbor's house and told her about what had happened. She also feared to do something. I asked her to take care of my babies so I can go to Samad’s office and inform him. She accepted. I ran toward street. I waited for a taxi, but there wasn’t anyone. Even there was no car in the street. Honarestan Street then was one of the deserted and less traffic streets in the city. There was a long way from there to the Avicenna Mausoleum. I ran all the way. There was a short way from Avicenna Mausoleum to Khwaja Rashid Street and committee, where Samad was working. But I could not walk anymore even a single step. Tiredness of these days, moving, keeping a vigil, Masumah’s sickness, and also being kept waiting in the hospital had diminished my energy; but I had to go. Inevitably I started running. When I arrived in front of the committee, I breathed hard. “I want to see Mr. Ibrahimi. Tell him his wife is here.” I said to the guard soldier, who had stood by the door.
The soldier went to the sentry box, picked up the phone, dialed and said: “Mr. Ibrahimi! Your wife is here and wants to see you.”
Samad replied so loud that I could hear his voice from where I had stood.
He said: “My wife? Don’t you make a mistake? I’ve just taken them to our house.”
I went into the sentry box and said aloud: “Mr. Ibrahimi! Please come here, an urgent business occurs.”
Shortly after Samad came. Without greeting, as he saw my face, he said: “Anything the matter? Babies are ok? Are you ok?”
I said: “We all are fine. Nothing’s the matter. I think our house was burgled. Let's go. Door safety latch has been locked and we can’t enter the house.”
He relaxed a little. “Wait a few minutes.” He said.
He went in and later returned with a soldier. The soldier started the Paykan which was parked along the street. Samad sat in front seat and I sat in rear seat. When the car moved, Samad turned toward me and asked: “Where are babies?”
I said: “In neighbor's house.”
The car quickly reached to the Honarestan Street. It entered the alley and stopped in front of our house. Samad got out of the car. He brought out his keys and tried to unlock the door. He climbed up the wall, when he was sure the door wasn’t open. I asked the soldier: “For God’s sake, you also climb up and follow him. Anyone might be in the house.”
Soldier put his foot over doorknob and climbed up. From the edge of the wall he jumped into the courtyard. Shortly after, he opened the door and said: “No one is here. Thieves have come and gone through the roof.”
Everything was messed up in the house. Although we still haven’t arranged our household goods and furniture, but there wasn’t a mess like this. Our clothes had been thrown in the centre of the room. Bedclothes had been spread out. Our few dishes had been scattered around the kitchen. Several broken plates and glasses had been dispersed on the kitchen floor.
Samad worriedly was looking for something. He called me and said: “Qadamkheyr! Colt revolver, my colt revolver isn’t here. What a disaster!”
I had hidden it. I knew if nothing was under the lock and key, its place is quite safe. I went to bring it. I had guessed right, it was in its place. I gave it to him and he uttered a sigh of relief. As if absolutely nothing had happened, he said coolly: “They’ve just robbed the money. No problem.”
Hearing these words, I felt weak at the knees. I sat down on the ground. We had sold our Dyane few weeks ago and I had hidden the money in Masumah’s can of formula. The can was in the cupboard. Thieves had stolen it. Shortly after that I looked for my few pieces of gold. They were taken too. Samad kept saying: “It doesn’t matter. Don’t feel sad. I’ll buy the better one. A little money and a few pieces of gold shouldn’t make you sad. The colt revolver was important that thanks Heaven it’s in its place.”
Samad and soldier went out later and I was left alone. I had brought back my babies from neighbor’s house. I did anything, but I couldn’t do my house works. I feared to go into the room and kitchen. I thought someone has hidden behind the cupboard, refrigerator or under the stairs and the ridge. I spread a carpet in the corner of courtyard and sat down there with my babies. Masumah wasn’t well, but I did not dare to go into the room.
At night, we were still in the courtyard when Samad came back home. Samad was stunned. “I'm scared. I can’t help it.” I said.
I had disgusted that house awfully. He hugged babies and took them into the room. By his backing, I also went into and cooked something for dinner. Samad was awake until midnight and tidied house out.
I said: “Don’t set our things, it’s useless. I don’t live here anymore. Or rent another house, or I return to Qayesh.”
He smiled and said: “Qadamkheyr! Don’t be such a child. Do you scare?”
I said: “You're not here from morning till night. What do I do at night, if you are sent to a commission one of these days?”
He said: “I don’t have the face to speak with the landlord and give the house back.”
I said: “I myself will go. You just accept it.”
He didn’t say anything. He was silent. I knew he was thinking.
Tomorrow noon, arriving to home, he was cheerful. He said: “I spoke to the landlord. I’ve found another place too. But it’s not so good. If you wait, I'll find a better place.”
I said: “It’s acceptable how it is. Just move from this house very soon.”
The next day we moved again. Our house was a large, newly painted room in the vicinity of Chapar-khaneh. I did not have much household goods. I arranged all of them around the room. I will never forget the tranquil sleep of that night. But the next morning, when I woke up, everything had been otherwise. It was like I just saw everything with open eyes. On the other side of the courtyard there were some room in which the landlord was keeping cows and sheep. Our room was smelled of their wool and dung. Flies bothered us. However, I must endure. I didn’t have the face to object.
Coming home at night, Samad found out everything. He said: “Qadamkheyr! This place isn’t appropriate for living at all. We should look for a better one. Babies will fall sick. Maybe I have to go to a mission for a while. Country’s condition isn’t good. First I must put my mind at ease about you.”

To be continued…