Khwāb-zadah Persiska (Farsi) 2026

Sorena was still lost in thought, absentmindedly spinning her phone across the table. Arash finished serving a customer and slipped the money into the cash register. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

She had been unusually preoccupied for the past few days. She barely spoke. Knowing Sorena as well as he did, Arash was certain that whatever was on her mind had to be serious enough to consume her thoughts completely. Still, he hadn't asked. If she wanted to talk about it, she would bring it up herself. Then again, she had never been the type to share what troubled her.

He entered the sold items into the shopping list on his laptop and started an instrumental track playing. Turning his chair toward her, he asked,

"Don't you have any work today?"

Sorena looked up and finally stopped spinning her phone.

"No. Why?"

"I've got a date with Leila. Thinking of taking her to the movies."

A brief laugh escaped Sorena as she leaned back in her chair.

"The movies? What for? Just take her home. Better lighting, more privacy, and nobody around to interrupt you."

Arash clicked his tongue.

"No matter what happens, your mind always goes there."

Sorena got to her feet and walked over to the coffee maker.

"I know you don't have the nerve, that's all. Want some coffee?"

"As long as you don't make that poison you call coffee."

"Coffee is supposed to be bitter. If you want it sweet, add sugar yourself."

Keeping time with the guitar melody playing in the background, Arash tapped his fingers on the desk.

"By the way, is she new?"

"What?"

"Not 'what.' Who? The girl you called. You moved pretty fast this time."

Sorena poured the coffee and set a cup on the table beside him. Then she sat down and said,

"Let's just say I've developed a liking for Afsoon. This time, I don't think I can wait too long."

"Where did you find her? She looked like a decent family girl. Doesn't seem like the kind of person Sasan would throw your way."

"If you really think about it, she's another one of Sasan's gifts. One end of this whole thing is connected to him."

"Sorena, how long are you going to..."

"Don't start lecturing me again, Arash. There's no relationship involved. I just want to help the girl with something."

Arash laughed and said with exaggerated excitement,

"Help? You? Let me guess, out of the goodness of your heart?"

A faint smile tugged at Sorena's lips as she took a sip of her coffee.