Writing Young Love: My Manije

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

bajenaghe naghi
by bajenaghe naghi
24-Oct-2009
 

The day I had dreaded for weeks had finally arrived and we were all gathered at the TBT bus station in downtown Tehran to say our goodbyes. Our neighbors of many years were finally leaving Tehran and were taking my Manije, their daughter, with them. I stood there with a hugest lump in my throat.  I felt that the world was about to come to an abrupt end and I along with everyone else in it were about to die of either extreme sadness or by drowning in our own tears.  My tears were copiously flowing down my cheeks drenching my T shirt.

Manije was my life.  She was the reason I woke up every day, washed my face, and ate.  I wanted to be alive so I could see her every day.  She was so gentle and so genuinely in love with me too.  We never thought that one day we were going to get ripped apart from each other.  We were always together.  Fred Astaire had Ginger Rogers, Laurel had Hardy, and I had Manije.  I remember one winter when Manije was sick with flu.  Every day I stayed at her bedside, form the morning till late at hight, never letting go of her hand.

I am alive today because Manije once  saved my life.  One day when I was jumping over the narrow canal that ran in the middle of our street, trying to show off, I fell in it and the rushing water carried me with a dangerous speed.  It was Manije's olympian sprint to keep up with me and her soprano holler that attracted the nearby shopkeepers and passersby to rush to my rescue.

Manije and I had lots and lots of plans for our future.  It did not matter to us that I was only six and that Manije was a year older than me.  We already had our house, decorated with lots of our favorite toys in every room.  We also had three beautiful daughters and with my insistence, they were all named Manije. It seemed that I could not have enough Manijes in my life.

Through my tears and the crowd I see the bus driver has climbed up to the top of the bus.  He is looking at me and repeatedly calling out my name. He keeps on calling my name and I am confused.  I look around and see my Dad and Mom looking at me too and my Dad is also calling out my name and saying, "see who is here to see you. Open your eyes."  I open my eyes and see the beautiful face of my Manije and her sweet smile.  I look around and realize that I am in my own room and not the TBT bus station.

That moment was the most beautiful moment in my entire life.

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

Recently by bajenaghe naghiCommentsDate
Mammad's Shrimp Moment
26
Jul 16, 2010
My Love Affair with Catherine Zeta Jones
15
Jun 17, 2010
The Case of Missing Johnny Dollar.
6
Apr 10, 2010
more from bajenaghe naghi
 
bajenaghe naghi

anonymouse jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Mon Oct 26, 2009 05:10 PM PDT

I remember well. It was lots of fun, but goodbyes were painful. Good old days. Javani kojaee ke yadat be khayr! 


  •  
Anonymouse

Iran-Peyma & TBT rides were the best! W/ tonbak & sing alongs!

by Anonymouse on Mon Oct 26, 2009 03:26 PM PDT

Everything is sacred.


  •  
bajenaghe naghi

anonymouse jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Mon Oct 26, 2009 03:03 PM PDT

LOL. I will try to remember more than fifty years back. If I come up with anything I will definitely oblige. Thank you. :-)


  •  
Anonymouse

Okay how about Iran-Peyma or Mihantour stories?!

by Anonymouse on Mon Oct 26, 2009 02:54 PM PDT

Everything is sacred.


  •  
bajenaghe naghi

anonymouse jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Mon Oct 26, 2009 01:23 PM PDT

I once went to Shiraz by Mihantoor. I Never traveled on TBT.  I am afraid, and I am sure to your delight, this is the only TBT story you will ever hear from me. :-)


  •  
Anonymouse

BN jaan tell us more TBT stories! Did you travel by TBT much?!

by Anonymouse on Mon Oct 26, 2009 10:56 AM PDT

Everything is sacred.


  •  
bajenaghe naghi

maziar jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Sun Oct 25, 2009 08:44 PM PDT

thank you for reading this blog and your comments only 50% of which I comprehende. 


  •  
maziar 58

daee jan

by maziar 58 on Sun Oct 25, 2009 08:00 PM PDT

ooh , juventu' ....

che bella storia,sembra come uno di nostri............                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               ooh ,adulecence,what a beautiful memo, seems like is one of our own.    thank you


  •  
bajenaghe naghi

Darius jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:52 AM PDT

Thank you for reading the story. You made be blush with all your kind words. Thank you. 


  •  
bajenaghe naghi

Ari jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:50 AM PDT

Thank you for reading. I am also very grateful to Manije to be alive.


  •  
bajenaghe naghi

Yolanda jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Sun Oct 25, 2009 11:01 AM PDT

I think respect is the foundation of any healthy relationship.  

Children get into relationships with pure heart and no extra baggage. They have not yet had time to accumulate mistrust, hate, and all the other ills that contaminate and kill adult relationships.  


  •  
Darius Kadivar

Beautiful Story

by Darius Kadivar on Sun Oct 25, 2009 01:57 AM PDT

And Glad she saved you life. Otherwise we would not have such a sweet storyteller and blooger like you to light up our days.

Warm Regards  bajenaghe jaan,

D


  •  
Ari Siletz

Beautiful telling

by Ari Siletz on Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:55 PM PDT

Also, we are all grateful to Manijeh for saving your life.

  •  
yolanda

......

by yolanda on Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:04 PM PDT

Hi! BN,

      Your story really makes me think! Even though, the love between you and Manijie was platonic, or we should call it brotherly/sisterly love, it is still very cool! Both of you respected each other and got along great!

      I think adults should try to treat one another right and learn to co-exist peacefully!

thanks,

 


  •  
bajenaghe naghi

Ali jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Sat Oct 24, 2009 05:19 PM PDT

Thank you for reading my story and I am glad you had a smile when you  finished reading. 

I wish I knew what happened to Manije.

We moved from that neighborhood and I went to another school and we lost  touch.  Specially, since I was younger, she might have lost interest in me.

I guess that was the very first of many times being dumped by girls/women. :-(


  •  
bajenaghe naghi

yolanda jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Sat Oct 24, 2009 05:10 PM PDT

Thank you for reading and your lovely comments. I guess I was like a teenager when I was six. I definitely acted more like a six year old in my teenage years. :-)


  •  
Ali P.

Bajenagh jaan

by Ali P. on Sat Oct 24, 2009 04:00 PM PDT

When was the last time you saw her?

Where is she now?

What is she doing?

Would she be reading this??

 

Sweet story. Your stories always leave a smile on my face :-)

 

Yours,

Ali P.


  •  
yolanda

......

by yolanda on Sat Oct 24, 2009 01:59 PM PDT

Thank you, BN, for the very sweet and innocent story! This part cracked me up:

Manije and I had lots and lots of plans for our future.  It did not matter to us that I was only six and that Manije was a year older than me.

    Oh My Gosh, you and Manije planned for the future at age of six....you must be precocious! You are currently the record-holder on IC for falling in love at the youngest age! You beat MPD by 2 years!....When I was six, I was absolutely clueless....

I like the interesting phrases you created:

copiously flowing, Olympian sprint, and soprano holler

great job!

thanks,

 


  •  
bajenaghe naghi

princess jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Sat Oct 24, 2009 01:07 PM PDT

Thank you for reading my little story. I don't think the love between two six year olds is sexual. Although I think naturally one is attracted to one with the opposite sex, if you know what I mean. :-)


  •  
bajenaghe naghi

multiple personality disorder jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Sat Oct 24, 2009 01:02 PM PDT

Thanks for reading and I too sometimes like stories with happy ending. Thank you for your kind remarks. 


  •  
Princess

Already at six?

by Princess on Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:29 PM PDT

BN jan,

You were an early starter! Thanks for the sweet story.


  •  
Multiple Personality Disorder

bajenaghe, I loved the way your dream ended with a happy ending

by Multiple Personality Disorder on Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:04 PM PDT

No six your old man should go through what you went through in your dream.  I'm glad her departure was only a dream.  A very nice story, as always.


  •  
bajenaghe naghi

Red Wine jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:05 AM PDT

Thank you for reading and I am so glad you liked it. :-)


  •  
Red Wine

...

by Red Wine on Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:35 AM PDT

Love it ...

Thx Ba jenagh jan for this very nice 'Writing Young Love' .


  •