This morning, Parastoo had English testing and Fatimeh and I went with her. A car stopped and we used it as private taxi to get to the institute. Until the test finished, Fatimeh and I walked around, later also buying some fruits.
green doesn’t mean unripe but another sort
Fatimeh also wanted to get halim for me, but when we finally arrived at the only place for miles around usually preparing it, they were sold out. But with Fatimeh’s charms and me being a tourist the gave us the extra portion they had reserved for themselves privately. Then we went back to school and waited for Parastoo. We did some exercise in the school yard. Fatimeh “lost” her head scarf (as usual) and 3 women were looking very “earnest”, for sure they think they are better….
At home, a late breakfast was ready and soon after, Rasoul went with me to town again. It was funny to go back to Bazar, now livelier, and one shop keeper recognized me, and we greeted again. Rasoul had bought some melons and now bought a 10kg bag of rice and other stuff, so his bike was fully packed.
On the way back, we visited his friend Nader in his office (remember it is Friday and everything “should” be closed. Nader first wanted to give me a beautiful but heavy book about Iran for tourists, but additionally, it was Farsi and we would not have space left for transport. So he changed it to a prayer chord.
Until home, we had done 20km and as a reward (and compensation for the loss of calories?) we joined in for lunch.
In the evening Rasoul, Parastoo and I made a last bike ride.
When we came back home, we joined Fatimeh and her parents in the small park near by and made some photos.
Grandma and Fatimeh wanted to give me some additional cookies for the next ride, so Fatimeh, Parastoo and I went to a shop. It was hard to limit their generosity, but the size of the bags is an argument.
Fatimeh had prepared another cosy dinner with a sad dessert and first tears came into eyes…
Maybe I should give up meeting or even visiting people, saying good-bye is always hard.
But I understand life as a single big good bye, we all leave this planet after such a short life-span, it is ridiculous how near birth and death lie to each other and how easily we waste those years in between for small nothings…
It’s interesting that you have made such an emotional relation with each other during those few days! Nice to read about it.