Zahra My Grand daughter1

Whenever I look at my little granddaughter, Zahra, and my grandson, Muhammad Javad, I usually review the course of events that have led to the present day when I enjoy visiting my Sayyedah daughter-in-law, Marzeiah from Mashhad, my beautiful granddaughter, and my charming grandson, while myself being a Khadim of the holy shrine of Imam Riza (A.S). It began when during a summer holiday I, my wife, and our five children were sitting round at home in Qom. My wife began complaining in a happy mood, “You have never taken us to Mashad to perform a Ziyarah to the holy shrine of Imam Riza(A.S).” While feeling ashamed, I replied, “There are only two problems. The first is the lack of enough money for the bus fare and the second is a residence in Mashad

The Broom of a Khadim1

It was a cold winter afternoon. Under the faint rays of the sun, Zuhre was sitting on the eroded stairs in their house, leaning against the wall and embracing her folded legs and gazing at the leafless apple and pear trees in the middle of the yard covered with snow. The half-warm rays of the sun had melted some of the snow but the stone-made water container in the yard was frozen.

Zuhre loved winter. She felt a connection between the winter cool and her own life. The life was no more beautiful for her. Her sad eyes, bonny cheeks, and weak hands expressed her internal pain and suffering.

It was after the sunset and getting dark. Her chronic headache had begun. At first she tried not to take it seriously, so she got up and began walking, but it was really serious. She held her head between her palms tightly and sat back on the stairs. Her headache soothed a bit.