The First Encounter with a Familiar Face


After years of searching for work, the best opportunity I found was driving for the airport. As I was cleaning the car, a gentleman tapped my shoulder and kindly asked,
"Hello. Are you taking me home?"

I replied, "I am at your service."

He insisted on loading his luggage into the back of the car himself. As we drove away from the airport, we soon encountered heavy traffic. Frustrated, I notic
ed that something in my car was catching people's attention. Glancing in the mirror, I thought to myself, "That man looks so much like General Soleimani. Perhaps he's a relative." I studied his face closely, even as he spoke:

"Does my face seem familiar to you?"

Surprised, I asked, "Do you have a connection to Soleimani?"

"I am Soleimani," he confirmed.

I chuckled in disbelief. The commander typically travels in expensive, bulletproof vehicles with security guards. He chuckled back
and said, "I truly am Soleimani." Amused, I retorted, "How could the real Soleimani fit his head in my car?"

This time, I fell silent and observed his face in the mirror. It was unmistakably him. I berated myself for my earlier comments. Stunned, I wondered why I hadn't recognized him sooner and why I had spoken so carelessly.

After a few moments of silence, he inquired, "How is life treating you, young man? What do you do for a living?"

I looked at him and replied, "If you, the real General Soleimani, are in my car, then I have no complaints about life."

Zohre Momenian