Isfahan Idyll
QOM. At last happiness has found them. Bliss, heavenly joy. Love! The scene: two couples - walking arm in arm, caressed by the unruly, rustling foliage of weeping willows: the path winding along a rushing river. Mr. Fallah, their servant up ahead carrying fruit basket, blanket, cloth, flowers and gifts. As he finds an ideal spot on the bank, he gesticulates and calls out to the couples behind him. When he has arranged everything, the couples approach to stand for a moment; admiring the sight, the river – eddies and foam, the willows on the opposite bank, in the distance the mountains.
Having helped seat the girls on the blanket the two men gets bouquets and presents from Mr. Fallah. The eyes of the girls sparkle and gleam as they see their lovers approach. Sighs and whispers -- ‘khodosh’, ‘my god,’ – are carried out across the waters.
Unwrapping the present, taking care not to tear the cherry coloured fabric with golden filigree, fingers impatiently working the stubborn bows, a shriek of joy as they recognize the portrait of their grooms: a 70 x 50 cm poster showing the two men on either side of their cream-coloured Chrysler on Mulholland Drive... Pictures are taken; the men – again -- on either side, girls seated, holding the poster between them.
Giggles, sighs as each couple cut and eat fruit from each others hands. Looks of wonder as the Delster Beers -- 0.0 % alcohol -- are popped open with the flick of a teaspoon. A moment of contemplation, a gust of wind, the sound of a distant river fall, the play of autumn sunlight, a stubborn beetle scaling the leather wall of a sole. Then a shade of gloom. It will not last. The gap separating cultures and geography is immense. But then -- in a storm of desperate hugs and furious kisses – the dark cloud dissipates. Only blinding light is left.
Having helped seat the girls on the blanket the two men gets bouquets and presents from Mr. Fallah. The eyes of the girls sparkle and gleam as they see their lovers approach. Sighs and whispers -- ‘khodosh’, ‘my god,’ – are carried out across the waters.
Unwrapping the present, taking care not to tear the cherry coloured fabric with golden filigree, fingers impatiently working the stubborn bows, a shriek of joy as they recognize the portrait of their grooms: a 70 x 50 cm poster showing the two men on either side of their cream-coloured Chrysler on Mulholland Drive... Pictures are taken; the men – again -- on either side, girls seated, holding the poster between them.
Giggles, sighs as each couple cut and eat fruit from each others hands. Looks of wonder as the Delster Beers -- 0.0 % alcohol -- are popped open with the flick of a teaspoon. A moment of contemplation, a gust of wind, the sound of a distant river fall, the play of autumn sunlight, a stubborn beetle scaling the leather wall of a sole. Then a shade of gloom. It will not last. The gap separating cultures and geography is immense. But then -- in a storm of desperate hugs and furious kisses – the dark cloud dissipates. Only blinding light is left.
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