Mom and I prepared for Rana’s birthday party that night. We were late, and Rana kept calling me to ask how far we were. Finally, we arrived, and Rana was waiting for the guests, including Mom and me. Rana’s home was big. The yard was big with beautiful flowers. Apple and cherry trees were all around, and there were lots of colorful flowers. I saw fig trees and pear trees. On the other end were apricot trees. In the middle of the yard was a stone paving. In one of the flower gardens stood a beautiful glass gazebo.
Lights were around the flower beds. A beautiful building with marble walls was in the middle of the yard. What an eye-catching view. This year, Rana’s birthday party was much simpler, with fewer guests than previous years. We went into the living room, which had a beautiful wooden couch. A large table was on one side of the living room. Different salads and desserts were on display. There were also large plates of juicy, colorful fruits. Rana and her mother greeted us. Rana’s mother was tall, with blue eyes and light brown hair. She wore a long, very beautiful, classic-style green dress.
We went to the upstairs living area. A few servants were serving guests. Most guests had arrived. Rana’s mother asked everyone to let her speak. She gave a word of thanks to the guests for coming to the party. As she spoke, I spotted one of the servants. I could not believe it. Khorshid! Khorshid was serving the guests. She came toward me holding a tray of drinks. I looked at her with excitement.
“Hello, Khorshid, I’ve been trying to find you! I was not expecting you at this party,” I said.
“I’m sorry, I don’t recall you,” Khorshid said, looking at me in surprise.
“I’m Anahita. Do you remember we met on the bus?” I replied.
Immediately, I asked how her little son was. It seemed like she recognized me then.
“Yes, I remember now. Unfortunately, I left my purse on the bus.” She smiled.
“Don’t worry about your purse. It’s with me.”
“Thank God,” Khorshid said happily.
Rana called out to Khorshid. She wanted her to serve some drinks to guests at another table.
“Let us talk later. We have lots to catch up on,” Khorshid said.
“Definitely, I have a lot to ask you,” I said, smiling.
Rana’s party went well. We all had a great time. Rana came to me for a chat.
“It seems like you know Khorshid,” she said.
“Not really, we bumped into each other on the bus once.”
“Khorshid helped my mother with the housework for a long time. She lives here too. Hers has been a challenging life. But she is a strong woman.”
“I’m eager to talk to her tonight. I have so many questions. Of course, if she’s willing to talk with me,” I said to Rana.
“Khorshid talks a lot with my mother and shares her troubles,” Rana said. “Why don’t you stay tonight and chat with her?”
Late at night, the guests said their goodbyes to Rana and her mother.
“While I see off the guests, you can go upstairs; Khorshid will show you which room to go to for rest,” Rana said.
Khorshid guided Mom and me upstairs. The upper floor had several bedrooms and a large hallway. On each side of the hallway, there were three bedrooms. Most of the rooms were guest rooms.
“My room is right across from yours,” Khorshid said, smiling.
“Why were you in such a hurry the other day when you got off the bus? You were so flustered that you didn’t even notice you left your purse with all your documents on the bus.” I asked her.
“My life story is very complicated. Rana and her mother are aware of my life situation,” Khorshid said.
“Can you tell me about it? If it’s alright with you?” I asked curiously.
Khorshid and I were talking in the hallway when Rana and her mother came toward us.
“Why are you two in the hallway? Come inside the room,” Rana said and asked Khorshid to join us so we could spend the night together. Khorshid agreed.
“Let me go and check on my son in his room. If you do not mind. He is asleep. I’ll be back quickly to join you,” she said.
We entered our room for the night. There were two beds. A dressing table. A wardrobe. There was a small bathroom.
“Khorshid is a woman who has suffered. But she is a strong and resilient woman,” Rana’s mother said.
We heard a knock. Khorshid came in holding her little son. Her eyes were full of tears. She glanced at her little son’s face.
“This is my little son, the only reason for my life…”
“What’s his name?” I asked.
“Liam.”
“What a beautiful name you’ve given him. He’s as beautiful as you, your son,” I said.
“Khorshid, on the bus, you said you have three children. But when I looked inside your purse to find your address, I found your ID card and a medical business card. There were no names listed under the section for children on your ID. Even though you told me you have three kids. This became a puzzle for me.”
Khorshid smiled faintly. She started telling her story.
***
Khoishid was born into a poor family and married a poor man. A few years after their marriage, they could not have children. Khoishid’s husband blamed the problem on her, although he never mentioned it to her. He didn’t care about not having children. They were in debt and had many financial problems. A child was not a priority. Their marriage was full of difficulties. But she wanted to have a child. She wanted to experience what motherhood was. To know where the problem was. Was she really to blame for the absence of children in her marriage?
“Is it me or my husband?”
So she went to a neighbor for help and got tested to find out what the issue was. Test results showed that she could have children anytime she wanted. She had no problems; the news made her so happy. One day, due to financial troubles, Khorshid fought with her husband, and he coldly called her infertile. She was so angry, she told him the truth. She passed him the doctor’s letter. After seeing the medical document, he looked at Khorshid in shock. He had known he had the problem from the beginning. But he hid everything from her. After the truth came out, he was angry. He started beating Khorshid. Accusing her of going to the doctor without seeking his permission.
At night, her whole body was in pain from the severe beating. Her face had bruises, and she failed to sleep due to pain and bleeding. She thought of running. But she didn’t have the courage. She did not have a place to go. After thinking about the consequences, she resolved to make peace with her husband. Around noon the following day, her husband came into the house with an old woman who hugged and kissed Khorshid. She showered her with praises and affection. The old woman’s behavior shocked Khorshid. She didn’t know the old woman. She wondered what the old woman wanted from her and what she was doing in her house.
“My daughter-in-law can’t have children, so we are looking for a young, healthy woman to rent her womb to us…” the old woman said, crying.
Khorshid’s mind went blank. She looked at her husband. She was angry. He looked into her eyes. Then he turned away. He occupied himself with the radio.
“What does that mean?” Khoishid asked the woman.
“My dear, I know about your life situation and your husband’s debts. My son gave your husband a check for buying a car…”
“Which car?” Khoishid asked the woman before she could finish explaining.
Her husband interrupted.
“Khorshid, I’ll explain later,” he said.
“Listen, my dear, if you agree to rent your womb to us, we will pay you well. With that money, you can move out of this poor neighborhood and live somewhere better. Also, I’ll make sure my son doesn’t take any action on the check. I’ll have it returned to you,” the old woman said, kissing Khorshid’s face.
“Think about it, my dear. We’ll also cover all your living expenses for a year and rent you a better house until the baby is born,” the old woman said and left.
As soon as the old woman left the house, Khorshid went straight to her husband, angrily, and questioned him.
“What is going on? Which car did you buy? Where did you get the money for the car? Where did you get the check, and to whom did you give it?” she asked him.
Her husband started crying and begging. “I lost the money; I gambled it away. I planned to use the money to buy a car and use it for a taxi business to cover our living expenses. The devil fooled me. I went gambling. And I was left with only one check.”
Her husband begged her. He asked for her help. He gambled the old woman’s money.
“Do you want to see me in jail?” Khorshid’s husband said.
She was shocked. Her husband was selling her womb for money.
