Pilgrimage

One Thursday Before noon, she was all alone. The children weren’t there. The aroma of food had filled the room. She was getting ready to go to the masque for praying. She had performed ablution and recited a section of the Koran privately. She took her veil from the clothes hanger to go. But she stopped when the telephone rang. She noticed the phone because of its ringing. She picked up the receiver.

-Hello, Ozra…
The voice was unclear.
-Hello. … Hello.
Again the voice was unclear.
-Hello, Ozra …
She held on the receiver tightly. The voice is familiar. More familiar than his presence…
-You, are you … Reza? HHH … Hello.
It was her husband’s Kind and loving voice. He had phoned from the front lines.
-How are you? How about the children?
-Fine, fine. How about you? It is said that there is an attack, is it true?
-Attack? It is not clear.
She was afraid of Reza’s voice.
-Children are annoyed. Can you come on leave?
-You can’t believe what I have to say.
He wanted to hear her words with great eagerness.
-What is going on?
-
-Be ready, I am going to return, we shall go to Mashhad.
On hearing this, Ozra was shedding tears. Reza likes Mashhad. Before going to the front, he decided to travel to Mashhad but couldn’t.
-When?
-I will be there A few days later, near you.
Now, she was crying.
-Do I believe? Reza?
-Be ready and prepare our travel equipment. Mashhad is waiting for us…..
She couldn’t understand Reza’s words. She was rejoiced. She couldn’t understand how she said goodbye. When she informed the children, they were full of emotions.
-Father is coming.
All things got ready. Needed equipment, food … all of them were waiting to see him. That day, at noon, the children were eager to see their father. It was 4 o’clock. Just waiting and expecting to visit him soon. Waiting is so bad but when it ends, it is sweet. At sunset, the bells began to chime. They all ran to the door. When the door opened, they were surprised. It was not their father. Only some acquaintance travelers were standing:
-With your permission…?
They entered. They were Mashadi relatives.
-You were in Mashhad, and why here now….?
-From Mr. Reza …
She was surprised when she heard her husband’s name. She didn’t know what she could say. They were sad.
-Surely …
-No, no… There is no happening.
-What?
-Reza …. He is just injured.
-By hearing his injury, she became sad.
-Injured?
One of the guests goes forward and tells the others:
They became calm. The children were astonished and were looking at them. They were sad.
- We decided to go to Mashhad; it seems that he had gone earlier?
The children were amazed and I was waiting to travel to Mashhad.