Their house was in the provinces. He was ten years older than me and the other cousins and because of his age, his sovereignty over us was legitimate. Under his family’s pressure and thanks to private lessons, he entered university. After three reports about him smoking opium at the university dorm, he was expelled from university together with a couple of his classmates and got drafted into the military service.

During the last months of his military service, we went to the province and he was also on leave. He had fallen in love and it was arranged that after receiving his military service completion card the wedding would be held. Three of my cousins and I followed Alireza and one of his childhood friends in the streets and alleys; we, being in our teens, lighted our cigarettes secretly and felt like adults by being close to Alireza. We entered an old bazaar, and then reached the row of tailors and drapers. It was a holiday and all the stores were closed. Alireza’s friend opened a store and we all went in. Through the store’s old stone staircase, we reached the second floor and my three cousins and I were engrossed in the colorful cloths in there. Alireza brought an ashtray for us and warned us to be careful with the cloths. Alireza’s friend appeared with a picnic gas stove in his hand. We exchanged suspicious glances and blew our cigarettes. They brought a metal stick, a safety pin and a bottle which was apparently perforated with a Bic pen. We got a bit afraid and Alireza realized it. He said they would take some puff and then we would go. He told his friend to warm up the metal stick and then offered us. He inhaled deeply and held his breath.

A couple of years after his marriage, the news broke out in the family that Alireza and his wife were addicted to crystal meth. They had sold their house and all their stuff and became tenants. Alireza was a flunky in a car showroom and his wife had outdone him in doing meth. Their neighbors called my aunt constantly and complained about the wife. At last, they lost their patience and called the cops for help. In the absence of Alireza, the cops burst in the house and arrested the wife. The house was ransacked and a great amount of meth was found, stashed behind the outlets and sockets. In order to escape the trap, Alireza got divorced and because of his parents’ insistence, he was hospitalized in a clinic to come off drugs.

A couple of months ago, I saw him at a family gathering. He was buoyant and perky. He had fallen in love and had plans to marry. Now he is an intercity bus driver and supposedly has become meek and is working really hard.