Death of a Swan
By Ferial Mosharafferialm@hotmail.com
I received a call from my friend in Paris announcing Niki Khalatbari's death. My friend was very familiar with her brother and had met Niki on numerous occasions. I did not, but I had seen her face on the billboards of Los Angeles on my many trips from the East Coast in the late '80s and early '90s. "Wow! Niki was so young, most likely younger than I am," my friend said. She was right. Niki was just 42. Hesam is Niki's brother and lives in Paris. He was, of course, devastated and the news was flying all over Europe and America faster than we could digest it. My friend asked me to attend the funeral since Niki would be buried here in the States and Hesam was on his way to America.
Throughout my day I kept remembering her beautiful larger-than-life picture on billboards and felt so proud to point out that she was from Iran. She had made it big and I was so proud. Even though I never met her personally, her loss was personal. I felt so sad– no matter what– this is another Neda. This time Niki was dead by a disappointed and broken heart like Leila the Bullet was made of ghoseh (sorrow). By the day's end I found the funeral home and took some time off from work so I could attend and share the grief. I chose to get to know her after her death just like Neda. Tuesday came and right at noon I was in Corona del Mar, her final resting place. I felt it really suited her. This place is known to be the resting place of rich and famous of people south of LA.
Those who attended the funeral included all her close friends, her aunt and her daughter who live in Orange County, as well as Bijan, the designer for whom she became a model and worked for a decade at the Rodeo Drive shop. She helped make the name Bijan's Perfume with her unbelievable Persian beauty known to every household and department store in America. She became so famous so fast. Modeling for Bijan was her second accomplishment. When she was younger, she appeared in a Darioush music video . They shared more than the video– Darioush was her step-dad as well. She was recognized inside the old Iran for her beauty as well. Darioush was at the funeral alongside another famous and ba marefat singer Shohreh and Kambiz , Googosh's son.
From the eulogies I found out that she died of a heart attack. She died from carrying the pain of losing her beloved dad and always being saddened by the world's unfairness. Neda died from a bullet, but Niki died of a broken heart.
Her brother Hesam said it was for the best; she will be better in the next journey of her soul. Then there was Ali Shekarchian. Oh my God, how she was loved and cared for. One could only wish to have such a great human being as a friend in a lifetime. He has such tremendous generosity, grace, and unconditional love towards Niki. He made sure Niki knew she was loved forever and forever has no end.
Her beauty had a curse attached to it. She apparently did not have the happiest childhood in spite of her later luck. She met the most famous and influential people around the world. Her grandfather was good friends with Mr. Ardeshir Zahedi, who sent his condolences via Bijan for a separate and more grand event for her memorial on the following Sunday at the Hotel del Mar in Santa Monica.
More speeches from friends, more praise, more shocking tearful faces! People were wondering how someone so young could die so soon. Her heart could not carry the pain that she felt. Her heart said no to life and left her friends and family with a pain of her loss.
This was the death of a swan. My condolences to her family and friends. May she rest in peace.
