"I know I usually update this blog on Friday but here's a treat for the rest of the working week :)
- Swati."
Maliheh loved the colour purple (Āreghoāney). Whether it was her room, the bedspreads, the chandeliers, the shisha, her make up or her clothes; Āreghoāney was her colour of choice. The Shah had decorated her room in the palace in Āreghoāney and bought her gold embroidered slippers in the same colour. That was how much he loved her. But he often wondered whether she loved him as much. Whether she lusted after his power or she wanted more money ?
Another person loved Āreghoāney. He was the son of a courtesan who entertained at Genghis Khan's darbar. They say he had shifty, enticing eyes which pierced through in its brown hue. With shiny black hair that tumbled in waves, he looked like a true Aryan. Is it not ironic that he was born to a courtesan ? His great love for music made him a master of the Shurangiz (a type of lute) and when he played, time came to a standstill. The world seemed like it stopped breathing and everything had frozen in time. The birds sang in tune and the wind added to the quartet. The peacocks danced and the rain descended its taps to match the same tune. His childhood was taken away from him, filled with insults, taunts and unwanted fondling. He grew up before time to take care of his sister and his mum. In Persia, the men of the house are expected to take care of their home irrespective of whether they are man or son or how many women the family hosted.
On a beautiful day, his mother asked to speak with him. She told him of how they did not have enough money to buy groceries or meat to even make kashk-e-bademjan. It was time for someone to step up. The home needed food to survive and it was his responsibility. She asked him to go to Saadi street and find a good man who would like to spend some time with her. She said she expected no lesser than a pouch of gold coins. And so he set out to find a good man. He did not know why a man would give his mother a pouch of gold for some time spent together. But he knew he had to feed his sister and that his mother had found a way out which was actually his responsibility. He walked up and down Saadi street and finally found a good looking man. He looked like an Aryan and felt like he was looking in an aged mirror. He told him of the proposition and the man took some convincing but agreed. They walked to his home where the stranger saw his sister. He stopped in his tracks and leered at her. He did not like it, this stranger was making lewd expressions at his sister. He ushered him towards the sitting area and his mother stood there covered in a shawl. She asked him to close the door behind him and leave her with the stranger.
How could he leave his mother alone ? His sister ran to hug him and he held her close. Abruptly, he heard the clink of anklets. His sister and he peered through a crack in the door. What he saw shocked him!! There stood two women dressed in their Āreghoāney bare minimum with coin studded hips moving to the rhythm of an inaudible tune. They both were dressed in traditional Āreghoāney Raqs Sharqi costume. He couldn't believe his eyes. He had just brought home a man. Where did the man go ? And who was this woman with his mother ? And why were they wearing Āreghoāney ?
At that moment, his mother turned and saw them peering through the crack in the door. "Ziavash !!" She screamed - "Take Zeba and go get some Bastani-e gol-o bolbol (Saffron and rose flavoured ice cream) Now !!"
Let me know what you think of this Afsānah!
Much love,
S
- Swati."
Maliheh loved the colour purple (Āreghoāney). Whether it was her room, the bedspreads, the chandeliers, the shisha, her make up or her clothes; Āreghoāney was her colour of choice. The Shah had decorated her room in the palace in Āreghoāney and bought her gold embroidered slippers in the same colour. That was how much he loved her. But he often wondered whether she loved him as much. Whether she lusted after his power or she wanted more money ?
Another person loved Āreghoāney. He was the son of a courtesan who entertained at Genghis Khan's darbar. They say he had shifty, enticing eyes which pierced through in its brown hue. With shiny black hair that tumbled in waves, he looked like a true Aryan. Is it not ironic that he was born to a courtesan ? His great love for music made him a master of the Shurangiz (a type of lute) and when he played, time came to a standstill. The world seemed like it stopped breathing and everything had frozen in time. The birds sang in tune and the wind added to the quartet. The peacocks danced and the rain descended its taps to match the same tune. His childhood was taken away from him, filled with insults, taunts and unwanted fondling. He grew up before time to take care of his sister and his mum. In Persia, the men of the house are expected to take care of their home irrespective of whether they are man or son or how many women the family hosted.
On a beautiful day, his mother asked to speak with him. She told him of how they did not have enough money to buy groceries or meat to even make kashk-e-bademjan. It was time for someone to step up. The home needed food to survive and it was his responsibility. She asked him to go to Saadi street and find a good man who would like to spend some time with her. She said she expected no lesser than a pouch of gold coins. And so he set out to find a good man. He did not know why a man would give his mother a pouch of gold for some time spent together. But he knew he had to feed his sister and that his mother had found a way out which was actually his responsibility. He walked up and down Saadi street and finally found a good looking man. He looked like an Aryan and felt like he was looking in an aged mirror. He told him of the proposition and the man took some convincing but agreed. They walked to his home where the stranger saw his sister. He stopped in his tracks and leered at her. He did not like it, this stranger was making lewd expressions at his sister. He ushered him towards the sitting area and his mother stood there covered in a shawl. She asked him to close the door behind him and leave her with the stranger.
How could he leave his mother alone ? His sister ran to hug him and he held her close. Abruptly, he heard the clink of anklets. His sister and he peered through a crack in the door. What he saw shocked him!! There stood two women dressed in their Āreghoāney bare minimum with coin studded hips moving to the rhythm of an inaudible tune. They both were dressed in traditional Āreghoāney Raqs Sharqi costume. He couldn't believe his eyes. He had just brought home a man. Where did the man go ? And who was this woman with his mother ? And why were they wearing Āreghoāney ?
At that moment, his mother turned and saw them peering through the crack in the door. "Ziavash !!" She screamed - "Take Zeba and go get some Bastani-e gol-o bolbol (Saffron and rose flavoured ice cream) Now !!"
Let me know what you think of this Afsānah!
Much love,
S
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