Odyssey... 4- Graduation ()()()

T. Square was a big compound with many activities- bus stations, bakeries, barber shops, apartment buildings, bazaars, and so many other things. The Squares in Tehran are nothing like pizzas in Italy or malls in America. Hana, horrified, was in total affliction. How could she find him in that big place? In fact, she was terrified by two things, not seeing him, or being seen by other people who knew them. She was certain that the nosy people of that area, as it is in their custom, would report to her family even before they would get back home. She visualized tragic scenes at home, her mom's weeping eyes, and her dad's extreme outrage; nevertheless, the fact of sneaking and doing something behind their back gave her a sense of bravery and courage. Drowned in her thoughts, she heard her name. It was him, the one who had set her in fire and brought her the best gift, love.

"Let's go, we don't want to be seen here." Saeid said with his soothing voice.

While he was leading, Hana behind him could not believe what she was doing. Very soon they were out of T. Square and in the S. Street, one of Hana's favorite place for walking. Her high school was also located in this street, where for the last six years she had walked back and forth to and from home. Tall pine trees on both sides of the street had set a shadowy carpet on the ground. The branches of the trees from either side of the street were connected in the middle as though they were kissing. They seemed seemed like a canopy over a plentiful plain. That street was less crowded and the chance of being seen together was much less. They walked on the sidewalk, where sun forced its rays through the cluttered foliage. As words were not expressive enough to describe the empathic connection between two lovers, they walked in silence.

The branch office of the Ministry of Education was half way up the street. One of the Shah's Castle was located a few kilometers beyond the Ministry building. Hana recalled her previous, occasional wandering on that street, on that heavenly place, when she had looked through the fence into the huge garden area of the castle in search of seeing a prince or princess. She had also thought about the majority of Iranian people who lived in extreme poverty, while the Shah and his relatives had so many castles.

They would be in their destination soon and everything, their secret date would be over. They both knew that; but none wanted to do anything about it. She terribly desired that Saeid would offer to walk more or at least would talk to her; but she never spoke her true wanting.

"Well, this is it. I must go in now." She said while was chocking with tears.

"Wait, just a minute." He said in a more dead voice than alive.

Hana lapsed into an eloquent silence. She could not make up his face because of the mist in her eyes.

"What do we do?" Her voice was barely audible.

Saeid, extremely emotional and agitated, began walking. She was mystified and was not sure what he meant by walking away from her. Did it mean, leave me alone, get lost, or follow me! Shocked and terrified, she dragged herself behind him. He walked to an alley, and then another one, and another one..., while she staggered behind, not being sure anymore where they were. Finally, distressed and perplexed, she called him. Her voice was trembling.

"Where are we going?"

Hearing her voice, he woke up from his dreadful thoughts.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I was carried away by my emotion blindly. Please forgive me." He gazed at her with a long, penetrating look, as though he would pierce her through with it.

"You haven't done anything wrong. Why do you want me to forgive you? You just acted strangely. You scared me." She babbled.

Silence again governed while they both were standing there, in the middle of an unknown alley, looking at each other. Saeid's unusual behavior gave Hana an awkward feeling. She did not know what to do or say.

"Do you want to talk?" Hana finally asked earnestly.

"What can I say? This is not going to work."

A cold thrill suddenly ran down her spine to hear his hopelessness.

"Let's talk. I don't know what you mean when you say this is not going to work." She began crying and tears glistened on her cheeks.

"Those who had never gone through hard time never understand." He broke in, pale and gloomy.

"I know what you mean. You're talking about my family, don't you?" She said, looking into his eyes with a searching glance. "If you knew what happened to my dad!" She said those in her speaking mind; but to him, she added after a moment of silence: "You just have to wait and see what happens."

"Wait, wait, I waited all my life for now, for you, do you understand, do you?" He cried out in despair.

"Isn't it too soon for us to jump into a desperation like this?" Her voice trembled and somewhat weakened by the emotion of helplessness.

"Your family never accepted mine. That is a fact, isn't it?" He said with a great roar of laughter.

"I don't understand! Why are you doing this? There is nothing between us; and you act as though it's the end of the world."

"Oh, God, I'm shocked. I'm injured. Can't you see or feel my pain? How can you say that there is nothing between us; all those looks, glimpses, ... Can't you see how much I love you, Hana?"

Hana, overwhelmed by her and his emotion, knelt down on the ground. He touched her shoulders and helped her to stand up.

"I'm so sorry. I never wanted to upset you." He began acting like himself.

"I must go now. You can go with me if you wish." Her voice was weakened by an extreme sorrow.

They walked back through the unknown alleys. Shortly, they found themselves in front of the branch office of Ministry of Education.

Dallas-

Hana finds herself kneeling down on the floor, as she did many years ago. Her entire body trembles of remembering that first and last date with Saeid. The memory of that lost love has remained with her ever since. Her tears flow; and she writes:

"When the tears flow,

From the sooty cloud and woe,

When the azure color sea,

From anger howls savagery.

But what is storm, what is cry?

A silent night for lonely to get by.

A man sings in the farm-

A sad song of lost charm.

The other lonely is me on earth;

Who opens a storm of tears with hurt.

To Be Continued, with Chapter Five, Solitude