"What have you decide, mom?" Sam opens the chain that was holding three of them together, while Hana was conjuring up. She steps back enough to see her sons tall again.
"We get rid of your dad no matter what!"
Three of them smile while embracing each other.
Tehran-
Gol, who had gained back her sanity after the birth of her grandson, amazed everybody including all the doctors who has tried to save her mental health from the demon that had taken possession of it. She was herself again, the way her family had known her. Her return to sanity made the house a loving, comfortable place to live in and in took a heavy load off Hana's shoulder. Hana's plan was to ask grandma to take care of her baby when she was not home. Now she was a little reluctant at beginning to leave her son alone with her mom; therefore, she asked grandma to check on them while she was at work or college. But very soon she realized that her mother was cured completely. Farhad was her unfounded medicine, cure, sense of existence, and her lost son. The way Gol cared for Farhad, as though he was her own son, was perhaps much better than any mother could do. Gol watched him to grow, speak his first baby talk, crawl, walk, and play. Farhad, in return recognized her as his number one mother and Hana as his number two. When he began talking, he called Gol, mom one and Hana mom two. Even though Hana was envious to the fact that her son loved her mother more than her, she was grateful that he was being brought up by her mother, who was giving him unconditional love and introducing him to the world in a gentle, loving manner.
Hana never spoke a word about the incident of seeing her sister in bed with her husband to any one; nevertheless, a week later, after giving birth, she forced her sister to go to a doctor with her. Sara's argument that nothing had happened was not good enough. Hana wanted to make sure that Sara had not lost her virginity since that would be a big shame and disgrace and no one would marry a non virgin girl. When Hana learned that her sister was still a virgin, she sighed of relief. She refused to hear Sara's side of story about that inauspicious day. After a year and half being married to Hamid, she knew her indecent husband very well. She did not need any explanation from her sister.
Sara married to a distant cousin a year later. She never cared for school. Her leaving home removed a big burden off Hana's shoulder for the fear of another disgrace. Boby, who had finished high school, decided not to try for konkor to get in college. He began working for Uncle Nabi in one of his stores; and Mina, who was at tenth grade, became closer to Hana and mother and gradually became mom three for Farhad. Hamid occasionally worked but none of the jobs lasted over two or three months. He was not hiding anymore his drinking; and from time to time Hana knew about his unfaithfulness and use of opium. Amazing Gol was cured and acted like a mother again towards her children; nonetheless, her greatest love was not for her children or her dead husband and son, but for her grandson, Farhad.
When in the evening Hana wanted to have a share of that cute, little boy that she had given birth to, by trying him to sleep with her, Gol would frown with a drop or two of tears on her cheeks while holding Farhad close to her bosom with his hands clasped behind her neck. Knowing her mother's unrivaled greatness, care, and love for Farhad, mostly stopped Hana of pursuing the matter any further; however, her feeling of motherhood was despondently provoked which increased her depression and sense of being. What made Hana to think about having another child was not her mother's possessiveness for her son, but Farhad's incredible love for her mother and his indifference towards her.
Occasionally that Gol went to Sara's home, Hana had a chance to be with her son alone; but all that time was spent by Farhad's crying and wanting mom one. Hana, who had given all her loyalty, love, and support as long as she remembered to everyone, was so disappointed that she came to believe that there was no meaning for life anymore. She felt betrayed by every one, whom she had been so generous to. She even felt the same towards her son. Nobody was there to tell her "stop, not your child. You brought her to this world and handed him to your mother and now expect that every time you say come to me, he would just run. It doesn't work that way."
Farhad was four year old when Hana's second son, Sam was born. Gol, right away fell in love with this second grandson and took over taking care of him. Hana's busy schedule caused the story to be repeated; and very soon she realized that Sam had become another Farhad. Nonetheless, one thing gave her a gloomy pleasure and that was graduating from college with a bachelor degree in literature which enabled her a better teaching position and more income.
Torn between desperate envy and completing her education, Hana finally came to the conclusion that without her mother's help, she could not possibly go to college and work at the same time. This realization relieved her of the sad predicament; and she decided to enroll for the master degree. When she discussed her intent with her mother, Gol supported and encouraged her. On the other hand, one would think how Hamid, a male chauvinist, allowed Hana to stay in college! Hamid, with his selfish, manipulative personality, did not care what other people in that house did. He was contended as long as he had his spending money, food, and sex. He did not want to be bothered with problems like children, bills, shopping, and giving a helping hand at all. He knew Hana could make more money with higher education, which he could use; and he was sure those degrees could not turn her against him since he was an expert to frighten his family and threaten them to a degree that they were even afraid of his shadow.
When Farhad reached kindergarten age, things took an unexpected turn. The cute, chubby boy, with his jean pants, tee shirt with his name embroidered on it, did not cry hysterically when Hana, mom two, took him to school every morning. Hana, astonished, watched her son thoughtfully. Even though, she had suffered so much her son's rejection at earlier years, Had
missed his baby face, talk, and body, now she blissfully discovered their sudden, mysterious connection; and prayed to enjoy it while she had it.
To Be Continued
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