Outside doors everything was impalpable, and inside home, things were illusory. People were divided in their differences and beliefs. The majority went along with the new regime and gradually got used to the new situation; while some others took advantage of condition of disarray began cooperating to benefit themselves either by making big money or getting high paying position. People on their own ( I believe) establish different groups. there were many names were heard, Basij, Pasdaran, regular military, Hezbollah, and so many more. Most of uneducated, radical, and fanatically religious people believed in the new regime, and honestly changed; while many other groups preferred still the Shah's regime over this one; however they did not dare to take any action and kept their opinion for themselves. Nevertheless, some fought not only the new comers, they also organized anti- regime organization to overthrow those unlawful successors. Should it had been a few years earlier, Hana most definitely would be among the last group, fight the new comers. But the disastrous death of her mother, the turmoil among family members and most of all her sons' well being stopped her. Trying not to break down by all the monstrous chaos within her, in her home, and in the country, she discharged her uproarious emotions every Friday when she visited her parents' graves. There, she was free to cry, scream and do what ever she pleased. Nobody paid attention to her since the cemetery was a place for emptying one's sorrow and agitation. She always felt better when she returned home from the graveyard.
Those days many people who could not endure the new circumstances, chose to smuggle out of the country, for it was impossible to leave legally. Now the country they were born in was pushing them out. The excitement, adventure, and stories of smuggling people intrigued Hana while she knew her service as a teacher was not wanted anymore and all her education, which had been gained by her hard work and sacrifice, were gone down the drain. That thought occupied her mind and she went to bed and woke up with it. The more she thought, the more she knew that escape was her only chance. Even though she was told many of smuggling people had not made it, or had been captured, or even robbed; she still felt living in danger with no hope was worse than fleeing in danger with hope. Being tired of responsibilities and financial problems, since mother's salary was gone with her death, she did not think they could smuggle. She needed money, a lot of it for smuggling. Besides what would she do with Hamid, the sick, immoral man she was bound to live with? Nevertheless, that thought became part of her existence and she began investigating about it. The best person she could start with was uncle Nabi. It seemed to her that her uncle knew everything; and she was right. When she approached him, she learned another secret about her uncle. He had sent three of her children to England right before the revolution; but his oldest son was still in Iran. Hana surprisingly discovered that her cousin, uncle Nabi's oldest son, was about to smuggle out of the country. So she had chosen the right person for information. Uncle Nabi thought that her idea was brilliant; and he told her that he could not imagine parents wanted to raise children in Iran anymore. When she told him that she did not have any money, he simply said:
"Sell the house and everything you have. The house is in your name, isn't it?"
Hana had never thought about the house and she wondered how he knew that her mother and siblings had turned the title of the house to her. But Nabi knew everything.
"What are you going to do with Hamid?" Uncle Nabi asked sarcastically.
Hana, who had not seriously thought about it before, said:
"I don't know. I guess he goes with us."
"I'm so surprised that you're still loyal to this evil man!" He said.
"What can I do? He's my husband, the father of my children."
"No, he is your enemy. All he does and has done is using all of us. Just leave him and go. Here in your own country with all your family around you, he had tortured you for the last thirteen years. Now you want to pay his way so he can go to a free country to torture, abuse, and use you more! I don't believe you."
Again, Hana was shocked to know that her Uncle knew so much about her personal life; but she knew that he was right; however the thought of leaving Hamid without telling him seemed unthinkable.
"How can I sell the house without telling him why? He's going to find out the house is mine!"
"No, if you don't tell him, he won't know. The best solution is to tell him that Boby, Sara, and Mina want their share and since you don't have money to buy them out, you have no choice but selling the house. Meanwhile I find a smuggler and when the house is sold, one day you and the kids will vanish; and he'll never find out where you are. I even help you financially."
Hana knew of her uncle's deep hatred for Hamid. In fact, he had been the only one in the family that never bought Hamid's obscene bluffs.
To Be Continued
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