Dashtan blew out a few candles that were stuck on a large rectangular cake. Everyone at the party applauded after the man blew out all the candles. Dashtan looked at the people present at the party with a smile, he left Rakia to stare at the end with eyes full of meaning for a feeling that was still burning inside him. That passion settled inside him like chlorine at the bottom of a water barrel. Waiting for someone to lift it up and bring it to the surface.

Rakia noticed the man’s gaze on her which made her immediately sit up and squirm slowly in her chair. As if Dashtan’s...