The Book of Fate by Parinoush Saniee Read Free Book Online Page A

snitch she is. Especially now that everyone in school is talking about Saiid. Half the girls who walk this way think he stands outside to see them. Now wait and see what stories they’ll make up about me tomorrow. Anyway, Maryam was still in the pharmacy, buying toothpaste, when I hurried out and ran over here.’
    â€˜That’s awful!’ I said. ‘Now she’s going to be even more suspicious.’
    â€˜Come on! She already knows something is going on, with that stupid Saiid putting the so-called prescription in a sealed envelope! Have you ever seen a pharmacist put a prescription in an envelope? And Maryam is no idiot. She was devouring the envelope with her eyes. That’s why I got scared and ran off.’
    For a few seconds, I lay there as still as a corpse. Everything was muddled in my head. But then I suddenly remembered the envelope and leaped up.
    â€˜Give me the letter!’ I said. ‘But first, check behind the door and make sure no one is there, then close it tight.’
    My hands were shaking as I took the envelope from her. There was nothing written on it. I didn’t have the nerve to open it. What could he have written? Other than mumbling a hello, we had never spoken to each other. Parvaneh was as excited as I was. Just then, Mother walked in. I quickly slipped the envelope under the quilt and we both sat up straight and looked at her in silence.
    â€˜What’s going on?’ Mother asked, suspicious.
    â€˜Nothing!’ I stammered.
    But Mother’s gaze was full of doubt. Once again Parvaneh jumped to my rescue.
    â€˜It’s nothing,’ she said. ‘Your daughter is very sensitive. She just blows everything out of proportion.’ Then she turned to me and said, ‘So what if you didn’t get a good grade in English. The hell with it. Your mother isn’t like mine. She won’t chide you for no good reason.’ And looking at Mother, she said, ‘Isn’t that right, Mrs Sadeghi? Are you going to scold her?’
    Mother looked at Parvaneh with surprise, curled the corners of her lips, and said, ‘What can I say! So what if your grade isn’t good. Actually, it would be better if you failed altogether. That way, you’ll go back to the sewing classes, which are far more essential.’ Then she put the tea tray in front of Parvaneh and walked out.
    We looked at each other in silence for a few minutes and then burst out laughing. Parvaneh said, ‘Girl, why are you so dense? The way you acted, anyone would know you’re up to no good. Be careful or we’ll be found out.’
    I felt nauseous with excitement and anxiety. I carefully opened the white envelope, trying not to damage it in any way. My heartbeats sounded like a sledgehammer pounding on an anvil.
    â€˜Oh, come on!’ Parvaneh said impatiently. ‘Hurry up!’
    I unfolded the letter. Lines in beautiful penmanship danced before my eyes. I was dizzy. We quickly read the letter, which was no more than a few sentences. Then we looked at each other and in unison asked, ‘Did you read it? What did it say?’ We read it again, this time more calmly. It started with this verse:
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    May your body never need the touch of a doctor,
    May your delicate being never be harmed.
    And then, greetings and inquiries about my health and wishes for a speedy recovery.
    How polite, how beautiful. I could tell from his handwriting and composition that he was well read. Parvaneh didn’t stay long because she hadn’t told her mother she was coming to see me. I wasn’t paying much attention to her anyway. I was in another world. I couldn’t feel my physical presence. I was all spirit, flying in the air. I could even see myself lying there in bed with my eyes open, a big smile on my lips, pressing the letter to my chest. For the very first time, I regretted having often wished that I had died instead of Zari. How pleasant life was. I wanted to