Before this change of location, I religiously attended my practices. Given the nonstop action stretching over the two-hour period and the late hours I was often completely exhausted by the time I got home. Fortunately I had a car at my disposal and as such could at least make it home in reasonable time.

One night as I headed home, the pouring rain in the early nightfall hours made it hard to see. While I was thankful that I had a car at my disposal, I figured on this night anyone who didn’t have one would be grateful for a ride. As I got on the highway and passed a bus stop, I noticed a female standing on the side and apparently waiting for the bus. Due to the poor visibility I wasn’t able to gauge an approximate age but I slowed down anyway. Moments later she leapt into the passenger’s seat as she enthusiastically thanked me and began describing the horror of standing on the side of the road and waiting for a bus in these conditions.

I initially panicked as a result of her extremely casual and talkative nature, fearing that perhaps I already knew her from somewhere. My fears were somewhat allayed as she introduced herself as Shabnam, a name that I only personally knew belonging to one other person overseas. She was a few years older than me and coming back from classes. She was going to Tajrish which gave us a long stretch to carry on our conversation, most of which was done by her. I popped in a mixed tape that began with Wilkins’ Margarita song Further ahead Roxette’s “The Look” began playing and I noticed she was tapping her finger to its beat on her knee.

As we got to the Velenjak Gas Station I made the left turn off of the highway which prompted a quizzical look from her. “Don’t worry I’m not kidnapping you. I just wanna avoid Parkway Intersection and Vali Asr Street. There’s a higher chance of us being spotted there as opposed to these backroads.” I intentionally began driving slower to stretch out my remaining time with her.

As I finally made the turn onto Sa’ad Abad Street towards Tajrish I realized our time would be up soon. “This is my route every Wednesday,” I explained. “We can do this again next Wednesday, same time, same place.”

“Sure but you have to be on time. Don’t keep me waiting because I don’t wanna take chances when it’s dark and if there is a bus I’m gonna hop on it.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be there on time.” As we got closer I spotted a sports shop on the right that I constantly frequented and the usual line of cabs. I also spotted another vehicle that made me slam on my brakes.

“Shabnam get out here. There’s a cop ahead.” She gave me a hug before getting out. As we said goodbye we once again verbally confirmed our rendezvous for the following week.

The next week I bolted out of practice and raced to the bus stop. There was no one in sight so I parked my car on the side of the highway. I waited for a while but finally concluded that I had been too late and she had already left.

That was the last week that Sanat va Madan Bank held their training at that facility.