Khadijeh’s Sewing Seasons
When my sisters and I were young girls, my mother hired Khadijeh, a talented seamstress with a clubfoot, to sew for us several times a year. Khadijeh’s presence brought excitement as she crafted our school dresses and other garments. Despite facing societal discrimination, Khadijeh’s warmth and love left a lasting impression on us.
Khadijeh, with her light brown wavy hair and greenish eyes, worked diligently on her sewing machine while we eagerly watched. During lunch breaks, we would sneak to the servants’ quarters, where the warmth of the korsi and the companionship of Khadijeh and others made us feel special. Even the food tasted better in that cozy room, creating a sense of escape from our everyday lives.
As I grew older, I began to ponder Khadijeh’s life and the challenges she faced due to her disability. In a society where marriage was highly valued, Khadijeh’s clubfoot condemned her to a life of loneliness and pity. Despite this, I wish for her to have found happiness, love, and acceptance - a fairy tale ending that she deserved.
Even after all these years, Khadijeh’s memory remains a symbol of resilience and kindness in the narrator’s heart.