Carpet Shop

Three weeks after my freedom, Haj Yousef Rashidi –one of INP pals of mine- called me and said: “Ahmad! You should not stay at home. You should work. I have a shop near to Emamzadeh Ma’soum at Qapan Siding. Go and sit there.”

I said: “I have disabled legs; how could I move and work there?” He said: “That shop is my brother’s. I am your associate. Do not worry. You should just sit and do not care about anything.” I said: “Oh God! They will shut your shop. Your brother and you would be jobless then.” He said: “It’s not your business! Just go there. At least you may find a circle for making contacts with other comrades.” I said: “Ok! However, I should see there first.”

That shop was located in Obeyd Zakani Street around Emamzadeh Ma’soum Shrine. They had rented it for 400 Tomans a month. After checking different aspects, I accepted his suggestion. When returning home unexpectedly a motorcycle stopped in front of me and said: “I’ll take you home!” I understood that he was a SAVAK agent and had pursuit me to there. He took me home and accepted the fare I paid him (15 Rls) not to make me suspicious about him.

I had a friend whose name was Hamid Haji-ha[1] about 22 years old. He was a very active boy. My life’s up and down was so interesting to him and he would always respect me. He really was enthusiastic to do something for me. His father was a merchant and a shopkeeper at Qiyam Square. So, he was a rich man. When he knew that I was going to begin a new job, he introduced me to a Blanket Producing Factory. He told the factory owner: “Ahmad is a friend of mine and has been imprisoned for some time and consequently is jobless now and no one is going to give him a job. Please give him blankets on my credit and send the invoice to me.

Hamid took the address. One day he bought and brought in the shop some machine carpets which were about 60 thousand Tomans each. Thus, he gave us the starting capital we needed for carpet selling. I would never forget that great martyr’s kindness.

I began this business while I did not know the business alphabet including the carpet kinds, adverting and attracting customers. So, I faced different problems. This business did not bring any benefit for us. It could only make Haj Yousef Rashidi and other friends happy. They were happy that I was back in the society and the late Haji-ha was happy that he had been able to do some kindness to me.

I could not achieve any success in that job because of lack of experience and skill. I lost about 20 thousand Tomans. We had poor customers who would buy the carpets by installments. Sometimes they were not able to pay their installments for months but we would not take it hard to them. Sometimes we had cash selling but its benefit was almost nothing. After some time, my legs pain increased. The public struggle also raised and I could not go to the shop any more. Considering all these problems it was impossible to continue our partnership. So, we closed that shop for ever.