Neda's life was a successful one; if only she could make it beautiful, too. Everyone that was familiar with her thought that she had a divine life. She had broken all the laws of the land by living alone, having a man friend that almost everyone knew that he was more than an editor to her. People said behind her back that she had a lover. Women envied her; men hated her; her father wanted her money. She was making so much money that her father, who had stolen all his wife's money for his business, could only dream of. But she did not care about the money.
Shortly after her conversation with Kasra and drawing her will, she bought the house that she had an eye on it for Sohrab and Maryam. She called them one day and asked them to take a day off from work. They both were astonished of this sudden request of Neda; but she was always unpredictable. No matter how much they insisted, Neda did not tell them the reason of her desire:
"If you love me, just do it; and don't ask me why!"
The next day they came to her house. She left Aria, doggy, and Ziba the cat at home with Kasra, who knew what was going on. He could not stop laughing, an indication that he knew the story of Neda wanting to go somewhere with her brother and cousin. At least Sohrab and Maryam's mind were at ease from Neda's good mood and Kasra's laughter that this mysterious event should not be a bad one.
She drove her car, a blue metallic Fiat. Mayam sat in front and Sohrab in the back. Everyone was silent in the car. Neda was wearing a mask on her face; she was thinking deep and heavy; the other two saw that mask; they thought to themselves if this thing was a pleasant one as they had seen kasra's laughter, why was Neda wearing her unusual mask? She stopped the car in front of the court house. All three went inside.
When they were all in the room to sign something which still was unknown to Sohrab and Maryam, the clerk of the court placed those documents in front of Maryam and Sohrab to sign. They finally understood what all these secrecy was about! Neda paid cash, all stacked in her big shoulder bag, and the house was her brother's and Maryam's now. They even did not know what house, how old of a house, how many bedrooms, or where it was located. Neda's lips were still sealed. When they finished, she drove them to the house and parked her car. Suddenly Maryam raised her voice and discharged a scream of happiness. She turned to Sohrab, her husband:
"This is the house I was telling you about! When we were looking for a house for Neda, this house was one of the one that we saw. I remember that I said to her that I wish we had money to buy it! Look, it's ours now!"
Sohrab had not seen the house, but if that was the dream house of his wife, it was good enough for him, too. Before going inside, the three hugged each other in a circle of ever unity and love.
"I don't know what to say, little sis..." Sohrab mumbled.
Neda answered: " Say nothing! You guys are the only one I have. Just go inside and look around. I wait up outside and have a cigarette."
Soon Neda helped them to move to their new home. She even bought them complete furniture for each room. Maryam questioned Neda:
"First the house, now the furniture?!"
"Furniture is the present for the new house!" Neda responded.
Jalal, their father, heard from Mehri the story of Neda's generosity towards her brother and Maryam. He almost turned blue. His anger was beyond measure.
"How come she never helps her old father?"
Mehri twitched in pain and for the first time said while Sima and Mina were present, too:
"You took my money and vomited on it. Now I have to live this terrible life because I don't have any money to support myself. Now you want her money, too, after what you did to her?"
Jalal was speechless. He knew Mehri was right. He knew that he was very greedy.
The day that Maryam and Sohrab moved to their own home, Maryam almost gasped for breath to have her dream home. She had always thought that Neda did not pay any attention to what people said or liked; but now she knew that she did, since Neda liked this house, too. Maryam remembered when the two of them had seen this house for the first time, both of them had showed so much excitement of its quaintness and beauty. She had been puzzled why Neda had not bought the house for herself. Now she knew. Yes, Neda paid attention to the people she loved and to their wants and likes! Yes, she recall led that how awestruck she had been to see that house, how she had said that she wished that they had money so they could buy that house. She was not certain though if this house was Neda's favorite, too or not; or she had not bought for herself because of what Maryam had said; and she knew that she would never find out about it. The day that they had closed the house and it had become theirs, Maryam told Neda:
" I feel like this is all a joke, but since I know you, I know it is not a joke."
To Be Continued
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