Woman Master by Mehrnaz Stars

Author:Mehrnaz Stars
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Tehran, fictional biography, Woman Master, Zan-Arbab, Mehrnaz Stars, Iran, Persia
Publisher: Cutting Edge Press
Published: 2013-01-29T00:00:00+00:00

C H A P T E R

25

Pari had just finished washing the curtains of the living room as part of the house cleaning before Norouz, the new year. She needed to refresh her strength with a hot cup of tea. The knock at the door didn’t thrill her. The last thing she wanted was a visitor to slow her down. She had a marathon of housework to accomplish before the first day of spring. It crossed her mind to ignore whoever it was but she dutifully diverted her path from the kitchen and opened the door.

“Aziz-jan, what a great surprise! Don’t be shy. Come in. It’s your own house after all.”

“Is anybody home?” Malous left her bag in the corridor. “Your mother and Foti have gone shopping.”

Malous had changed. She had lost weight and the two dark bags under her eyes did not speak of a relaxing time. Her skin had the dry, darkened pallor of the malnourished. She seemed tired and drained.

“Are you hungry? There’s fresh bread?”

“That would be nice.”

Pari cut a chunk of bread and put it next to her plate. She poured a cup of tea and joined Malous at the kitchen table. She popped a sugar cube into her mouth.

“Been doing a lot of walking?”

“Huh?”

“Your shoes look like they’re ready to bark.”

“I didn’t have any money to pay for the bus fare. I have to walk to get to school, or anywhere else for that matter.”

“You mean he didn’t even spare a bus fare?”

“He never offered and I never asked.”

“How is nursing school?”

“It’s all right. I’ve learned some useful things. But I don’t want it enough to bear the misery at my father’s place any longer. It’s a nightmare. It’s like waking up in hell every morning knowing that no matter how much you try everything will crumble down on your head by night time.” She talked like an inmate just released from a penitentiary packed with unpredictable lunatics, as if she were dramatizing her story. Staring off into space as she spoke. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as penny-pinching as my father in my whole life.”

Pari nodded in agreement.

“At least now that I’ve lived there for a while I know that he treats all his children the same. He doesn’t care about a single one of us. It’s as if we’re another mistake in his life. And for heaven’s sake, what is that woman he got married to? God, she is truly as low as they come. It’s a madhouse, that place. It’s as if she lives for stirring a fight. Saying that she’s rough is an understatement.”

Malous shoved the last piece of bread in her mouth. She looked ready for more.

“There’s yogurt you could have. I made it myself. Do you want some before dinner’s ready?”

“That would do nicely.” She poured a cup and left it on the table to cool down.

“Did anyone miss me at all?”

“I’m sure they did.”

“You don’t have to lie for other people, you know. I’m a big girl.

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