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A Letter for Navid Khanjani from *Shayan Vahdati
Not my hand, but my heart shivers as I write your name.
It was moments after damn twelve o’clock when they said they have taken Navid. Take you? You were not the type to be taken.
What is one to do with fear? They probably came to visit you armed, although they most likely hid the weapon from you. They also didn’t have the courage to bring handcuffs. For days they were waiting for this moment. They were so happy when they saw you visit your parents after being a away for so long. So happy that…Let’s move on…
I feel the pain from my red worn out eyes to the tips of my toes. I felt the pain of loneliness, anxiety, and confusion when Hesam and Sepehr also left. Like they say, three is a charm…Odd!
What kind of friendship is this that you live this way and we watch?
I swallowed my thoughts and desires so I don’t recreate more trouble from the pain of loneliness. The night somehow became day and my angry eyes became redder.
Across from the court of injustice I saw your brother, who if given the slightest opportunity, would have redder and naturally sadder eyes than me.
I was strolling around the court of injustice. I glanced at the entrance and noticed the uneven scales of justice; it made me sick. I was hopeful that you would come out eventually. I paced back and forth. Finally, from afar, I saw two people accompanying you. You were coming and I was running.
I called out for you, and before turning, you already knew what was happening. You laughed. What a guy you are!
Never did **Shirin take Farhad into her arms this way, or Farhad take Shirin; although that’s not important. It is important that I felt the pain of all those longing for you as you hugged me.
You asked about my red eyes. You put me right after God as your source of hope while I was still baffled by your nodding and smiling, let alone what you said in my ear.
Too bad it was time for you to go, and the scene I witnessed surpassed the film of Neda’s death for me a thousand fold. Only the pure and righteous hands of a suffering father could strike at your escort [regime official accompanying Navid] and ask, where are you taking my son?
The world fell apart right there in front of me. You should have seen your father’s hands and the hidden fury that he has learned to accept. I have seen it a thousand times and continue to see it. I will also show it to others one day.
I admire you for your fight for freedom so that others will realize their rights. I admire you not only for defending the youth banned from education, but fighting for those who deserve to be in the best colleges and all the imprisoned free-thinking individuals.
Believe me that prior to you I had not seen anyone feel the pain of those close to them as much as you. Everyone is sick and tired of repression, yet you still laugh.
Maybe it has been years since I joined you on the path that has yet to be completed. You saved me from the cold and bitter silence that many of us have fallen victim to.
You listen to the complaints of those who are silent with all your heart, you fight for their freedom and rights, and you still smile.
Your smile is a bandage to the injured earth. We will wait for your freedom. You are not the type to be taken, we all know. I also await to bring your gift, the smile of freedom, to your family and friends.
Come back, this is just the beginning. Our celebrations are still to come. There are streets where we have yet to stroll. There are topics we must discuss. There still remains a lot to learn from you.
This path of freedom, equality, and realizing the rights of all persons is calling for you just as we are. You can be certain that this beginning can not exist without its trunk and medicine!
We will be watching the clock. We will wait for you dear friend.
* Shayan Vahdati is Navid Khanjani’s friend.
** Shirin and Farhad (or Khosrow) is a story of Persian origin which is found in Shahnameh poems based on a true story further romanticized by Persian poets.
Translation by: Ramin Joubin Persian2English.com
Not my hand, but my heart shivers as I write your name.
It was moments after damn twelve o’clock when they said they have taken Navid. Take you? You were not the type to be taken.
What is one to do with fear? They probably came to visit you armed, although they most likely hid the weapon from you. They also didn’t have the courage to bring handcuffs. For days they were waiting for this moment. They were so happy when they saw you visit your parents after being a away for so long. So happy that…Let’s move on…
I feel the pain from my red worn out eyes to the tips of my toes. I felt the pain of loneliness, anxiety, and confusion when Hesam and Sepehr also left. Like they say, three is a charm…Odd!
What kind of friendship is this that you live this way and we watch?
I swallowed my thoughts and desires so I don’t recreate more trouble from the pain of loneliness. The night somehow became day and my angry eyes became redder.
Across from the court of injustice I saw your brother, who if given the slightest opportunity, would have redder and naturally sadder eyes than me.
I was strolling around the court of injustice. I glanced at the entrance and noticed the uneven scales of justice; it made me sick. I was hopeful that you would come out eventually. I paced back and forth. Finally, from afar, I saw two people accompanying you. You were coming and I was running.
I called out for you, and before turning, you already knew what was happening. You laughed. What a guy you are!
Never did **Shirin take Farhad into her arms this way, or Farhad take Shirin; although that’s not important. It is important that I felt the pain of all those longing for you as you hugged me.
You asked about my red eyes. You put me right after God as your source of hope while I was still baffled by your nodding and smiling, let alone what you said in my ear.
Too bad it was time for you to go, and the scene I witnessed surpassed the film of Neda’s death for me a thousand fold. Only the pure and righteous hands of a suffering father could strike at your escort [regime official accompanying Navid] and ask, where are you taking my son?
The world fell apart right there in front of me. You should have seen your father’s hands and the hidden fury that he has learned to accept. I have seen it a thousand times and continue to see it. I will also show it to others one day.
I admire you for your fight for freedom so that others will realize their rights. I admire you not only for defending the youth banned from education, but fighting for those who deserve to be in the best colleges and all the imprisoned free-thinking individuals.
Believe me that prior to you I had not seen anyone feel the pain of those close to them as much as you. Everyone is sick and tired of repression, yet you still laugh.
Maybe it has been years since I joined you on the path that has yet to be completed. You saved me from the cold and bitter silence that many of us have fallen victim to.
You listen to the complaints of those who are silent with all your heart, you fight for their freedom and rights, and you still smile.
Your smile is a bandage to the injured earth. We will wait for your freedom. You are not the type to be taken, we all know. I also await to bring your gift, the smile of freedom, to your family and friends.
Come back, this is just the beginning. Our celebrations are still to come. There are streets where we have yet to stroll. There are topics we must discuss. There still remains a lot to learn from you.
This path of freedom, equality, and realizing the rights of all persons is calling for you just as we are. You can be certain that this beginning can not exist without its trunk and medicine!
We will be watching the clock. We will wait for you dear friend.
* Shayan Vahdati is Navid Khanjani’s friend.
** Shirin and Farhad (or Khosrow) is a story of Persian origin which is found in Shahnameh poems based on a true story further romanticized by Persian poets.
Translation by: Ramin Joubin Persian2English.com
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