Sohrab's two years college was almost over. He would become an English teacher for junior high school. This was a new system of education that the Shah had implemented it. There were no more six years of elementary school and six years of high school. This new system was five years elementary, three years secondary or junior high and the last was four years of high school. Sohrab would be teaching right in the middle, the secondary school. For high school, one should need a bachelor's degree at least. His income from teaching would not be a lot, as it was custom everywhere in the world. Teachers were never paid good money for the hard work they do. They mostly did it for the love of teaching. But the way Neda figured it out, after getting confession from Maryam that she was in love with her brother, if they would ever marry, the combination of both income would be enough for a simple life. Neda knew them both. she knew that they don't want anything but simple life. Besides Neda knew if she had extra money, she would give it to them. But she never thought what would she do as a single, widowed twenty two years old woman living alone by herself. No one in her family, even Sohrab would think about it right away. "We think about it later!"
Secrets were out. Sohrab and Maryam, who had never talked about their love openly, now were acting more than two cousins. They did not have to hide their affection for each other living with Neda since they knew she loved it and praised any kind of true love. Now they were officially lovers.
One evening Maryama told Neda while laying on her bed and Neda was getting ready for bed:
"Oh that thing! What am I going to do about it?"
Her voice showed a true sadness. Then as if she was not clear enough, she continued, this time with firmer voice:
"Well, what do I do if we get married? How will I say to Sohrab that I am not Virgin?!!"
Neda began a big laugh :
"If my brother is that kind of man, you better not marry him at all, but you know he is not!"
The next day, Friday, everyone was home. Neda and Maryam were cooking together. They always had a nice meal for Friday (a holiday in Muslim countries). During the week, Neda cooked for everyone. She was happy that she had watched her mother's cooking and had learned a lot. Besides she constantly called mother and asked her questions about cooking. She began to love cooking and the process it took to prepare meal for people that she loved. To her cooking was like a form of art. Since their separation from their parents, her appetite was back and she loved to eat, and eat good meals. Her cooking, according to her mother and aunt Zari was very good and getting better.
This particular Friday, at dinner table, while the three of them finally sat to dinner, Neda looked at Sohrab, then Maryam; and without consulting Maryam, she suddenly said:
"Sohrab!"
Sohrab raised his head from his eating and looked at his sister. He saw a glimmer in her eyes like the days of their childhood when she had done some nutty thing like touching something she should not in his room.
"What Neda?"
"Maryam isn't virgin!" Her sudden statement, so matter factually, almost made Sohrab and Maryam to chock on their food. The color left Maryam's face. Sohrab's eyes seemed larger than normal. He looked first at Neda and then at Maryam, and said:
"If you're trying to find out what kind of man I am, you should know by now; and I think there are many other things that you can come with to test me! But even if she is not, so what! Her past is hers not mine. Her present and future are mine. Besides I knew it!"
The surprise of saying, "I knew it" was so shocking for both women that they stayed quiet, and independent from each other, they decided to close this chapter of Maryam's life. No one ever talked about it anymore.
To Be Continued
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