Tajik migrant 

From Tehran Colours

At first he said he was from "Shomal" which is Iran's Caspian Sea region but without much prompting he admitted that he and his wife had been smuggled illegally into Iran, presumably I thought from Tajikistan - his Farsi was close to incomprehensible to me.

Walking together for no more than 50 metres, he still had enough time to ask me whether I was married.

I told him no and he fixed me with a mischievous smile.

"But you have a friend don't you?"

I told him not exactly but that I did have someone in mind.

"Well God willing, you will be successful!"

I walked on in high spirits before turning back after just a few steps. My Tajik friend was still where I had left him. "Can I take a picture - for a keepsake?"

Happily, he obliged.