Three years ago when I had just finished high school and was entering university, I used to insist papa to buy me car. Back then I had not yet received a driving certificate, but I was so persistent that I did get it right 20 days after my 18th birthday.
Papa was too stubborn to accept. He said that he wouldn’t buy me a car because he had no money. But later, when he had a lot of money at hand, and he knew that I know, he changed his reason to different vague issues and we were always having quarrels, specially when I was seeing all my friends having a car but me, though my father could afford it easily.
I called him stingy sometimes, pessimist the other times and so on...
Later we agreed on a double increase in my pocket money so that I’d not talk about car any longer. People around me called this a foolish decision of mine. Friends said that I had lost the game to him. I was not satisfied myself too. Because I had no money needs then and the money he was paying me was useless.
Actually there is no possibility for me to spend money, but to spend it on crazy expensive things like shoes, clothing and restaurants. Besides there is no chance to have fun, specially when I don’t have a car, it’s too difficult to accompany friends, and this terrible feeling of bothering the friends all the time, as they had to come after me all the time and drive me back later.
Let’s call it another reason that I gradually withdrew from friends’ gatherings.
Right now, when papa says that he will pay my living costs in any foreign country and is supportive of my whole decisions for leaving Iran, I am beginning to understand why he never agreed on buying a car.
Right now, when I see how my female friends are facing trouble when they are driving in their own cars, how people annoy them, how every one longs to hurt a female driver, I understand why papa was so stubborn then.
And finally when I see my friends having accidents when they are not capable themselves to take the car for repairing and how they cause their fathers a lot of trouble, I understand that is not what I ever wished for at all.
Now it makes me say : papa! thank you!