But what good had come from this pricey independence? Neda had things that she did not need; she had plush leather chair, so she could brought the footstool up and placed her feet on it, she had money; but she preferred to have her daughter and her family. She had needed Ariana for many years, in fact since her birth. She was hoping that when Ariana could read, she would read her poetry ! Perhaps she would see herself in Neda's poems, May be then she would be of the age that she could look at the picture of Neda in the back of her books and somehow would connect herself to this famous poetess. Then perhaps she would trace that picture and like happy movies, they would all come to an happy ending.
Neda was prosperous but sad. She was the envy of many women, but she envied their lives with their children. She always told Kasra:
"I wonder why I have been given this talent to prosper, succeed, to do anything I want, if it is only to be alone and childless."
Talk about Maryam and Sohrab having a child continued. However when one day Maryam broke the news to her that she was pregnant, Neda was so happy that she could not stop laughing, crying, screaming. They were in Neda's room. Sohrab and Kasra came in without knocking the door. They just opened the door and entered. First they were frightened that something horrible had happened in that room; but they saw the two women hugging in a style of dancing and turning round and round, screaming, laughing, gesturing funny things. They stopped when they saw the two women in that kind of mood of jubilation. Maryam turned red. It was obvious that something horrific had just hit her. She turned to Neda:
"Sohrab doesn't know!"
On one hand Neda was delighted to be the first to know, on the other hand she knew why Maryam had became nervous. She came to her cousin's/ sister- in- law's, rescue:
"She was planning to tell you first Sohrab. I've just guessed it and had my suspicion, and quizzed her so much until she told me."
Sohrab looked at his sister and wife. He was upset inwardly. He divined what the issue of the two women's happiness was about; but he, being a real gentleman always, came to Maryam deliverance and hugged her:
"You're pregnant. Don't worry. I'm not upset. We wanted this baby since the beginning of our marriage. I am delighted. I did not want us to have a baby after we were thirty. This is so perfect, sweet heart!"
Maryam's pregnancy was nothing like Neda's. She was not sick. She did not vomit; however Neda spoiled her as though Maryam was her child.
The day that the baby boy came to this world, Neda played the role of Maryam's mother, and participated in the delivery room along side Sohrab. That day was the happiest day of her life. No one from outside could tell who had given birth, Maryam or Neda. She acted as though she had given birth to the baby. They named the baby Aria. They asked Neda to name her:
"Aria, it matches Ariana; what else!" Neda said without thinking. So it was ARIA.
To Be Continued
No comments:
Post a Comment