Jalal knew the order in which the bookcases were arranged with his books. Just like being in a library or book store, all his books were organized alphabetically or by the subject matter. He could find what he wanted even with his eyes closed.
They were better off than many other families financially. However, Jalal made his children work for their pocket money or lunch money for schools. This was an unusual act for an Iranian father; nevertheless, he always had his way for everything. When his children were of age that they could earn their allowances, he made Neda help with chores around the house and Sohrab help him in his business in bazaar. Jalal's idea of raising children and making them independent, was a psychology of self reliance. His self credence was the same both for girls and boys as strange as it might sound in their culture for the time they lived. He said when people worked for their money, they would value the things they have a lot more than when everything was given to them. Therefore, when Sohrab and Neda were at the ages they could help out, he made them to do so and paid them. The children then could keep the money and spend it in any which way that they wished. He always thought a working person was much more honorable than a non working person! But when it came to women, he considered their work at home, including raising children, cooking, shopping, cleaning,... as hard work as a man's work outside of the house.
He provided the best that he could for his family; nevertheless, he made them work at least for part of it. This early training would save Neda in her future endeavor.
Neda's mother, Mehri, was a very simple woman, almost unimportant. However, this homey woman taught her more about love and life than any person in her life even her father. Mehri lived in past and the glory her wealthy family had. In fact it was her father's wealth that provided Jalal, her husband, with enough money to begin his business at the beginning of their marriage when her father was still alive. she lost her mother to breast cancer not long after her marriage. In fact, she was pregnant with Sohrab when her mother passed. There was not much of the cure for cancer those days. Just the word "cancer", itself, meant death sentence. She lost her father many years later. Neda was fourteen when her favorite grand father died. Her father's inheritance was divided amongst her two older brothers and her. However by the Muslim law, the two brothers inherited twice more than her. But even though she got only half of what her brothers did, she became a very rich woman. Again, Jalal, her husband invested that money in the business without even including her name any where! Everything they had belonged to Mehri; but all of them were in Jalal's name. He even did not ask his wife how to use the money. He just took it. That was considered his right; they were married; therefore his wife's wealth, even inheritance, belonged to him. So his philosophy of self reliance was something that did not apply to himself.
Sohrab and Neda were too young to know about any of these; and besides no one ever told them anything. All they knew, was that grandpa had died. Neither of them knew how their father, the man they loved and feared so much, took advantage of their mother- the kind hearted, simple woman, who was crying so much those days!
To Be Continued
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