Fiction
Under the Carefree Afternoon Sun
by Jeyran Gahan
A different narrative of love between a Jewish girl and a Muslim boy This novel is a narration of the life of the Jewish minority in Iran and their coexistence with Muslims. It’s the story of a girl called Mona living in a fanatic and strict Jewish family. She sings and plays the Taar. She meets Shahriar, a Muslim musician from a traditional family. Love sparkles and the story begins. According to Islamic and Jewish law, their marriage is not allowed unless one of them converts, yet conversion is forbidden in both religions. Mona’s aunt, Javahir-Jan, is a wise woman who also plays the Taar and is her only true supporter in the family. When young, she was also involved in a forbidden love story. Mona’s rebellious sister, Edna, who is bold enough to follow her own way, takes traditions for nothing and moves to Israel to buy her freedom. Mona is bound to make a choice: either forget about love or converts and marries Shahriar. Should she choose to go to Edna’s way or Javahir-Jan’s? Is there any other choice leading to a different destiny?
