IN one of the towns lying on this side of the Urals a rumour was afloat that a Persian magnate, called Rahat-Helam, was staying for

It's early in the morning and you just woke up. Imagine for a while that from that morning on, you are not able to walk.

Holding the remote control in one hand and a warm glass of chai and honey in the other, I began my afternoon ritual of Persian