Late pigeons

Realizing this the king became upset and said to his adviser Hassan:

“Look at that woman! How come that she is not aware of my presence. Is she deafmute, or doesn’t she know that the king passes by?”

“That woman is baking bread, oh my king!” – said the adviser.

Feruz became angry and said: “Which one is greater – the king or bread?”

Hassan said: “Of course, bread, my king! The country can live without a king, but without bread – never!”

Mohammed Rakhimkhon was impressed by this and continued on his way…”

After finishing his story Otabek realized that all the women and girls selling bread had been listening to him attentively.

“Thank you very much! Whoever respects bread will be respected in return!” – were the words of appraisal for the legend.

“What is your name?” – asked Otabek leaving the stalls.

“Do you always ask the name of the girls you meet?” – whispered the girl, trying not be heard by the surrounding people.

“N-n-no, I just….” – the boy replied with difficulty that he couldn’t say that was in his heart. “I just wanted to get acquainted. My name is Otabek, and I am from Tashkent, I am guest in your city. Do they scoff at the guests in your city?” – the boy straightened.

“Take the bread please, our girls sell bread not themselves, am I right Raykhon?” – all the girls burst into laugh. Otabek again peeked at the girl, her cheeks were flushing red and embarrassed. She didn’t say a word and turned to her friends to reprimand them. And Otabek also walked away towards Japanese tourists…

2

The sultanate created by Timur the Great in the 15

century was recognized worldwide by rulers of that time, international relations and trade affairs were organized well. In course of time his heirs fought with each other for the sultanate, and destroyed a lot. As a result such a big kingdom fell. The rulers and kings who came afterwards divided Turkistan into three khanates and reigned independently as they could. In the middle of the 19

century the Russian Czar conquered Central Asian three khanates with the motive of railway construction and seized the whole Turkistan. People, living here, became slaves because of dissociated rulers and landowners.

The red commissars, who came to the top of the government, disarticulated Turkistan, and turned Uzbek lands into cotton growing fields till the late 1990’s, they directed the subterranean and over ground treasures to the Kremlin. The real sons of the country were killed and banned with various excuses. The red structure, built on falsehood,recessed by itself and the 14 republics within the union declared their independence.

After 500 years of Timur the Great’s sultanate Uzbek people gained their independence again…

Whenever Otabek guides Japanese tourists to the historical sightseeing places in Samarkand first of all he takes them to the mausoleum where the first president of the Republic of Uzbekistan – Islam Karimov rests, located just next to Khazrati Khizr Mosque. He tells about Islom Karimov’s deeds he did for the independence of our homeland.

Thanks to independence and freedom we reached our real spiritual roots, raised our heads and achieved the right to determine our destiny ourselves. Our economic sectors were modernized with advanced technologies within the past years, foreign investments were introduced. Entrepreneurs and landowners layers appeared, generation of national subject bibliography was created. All attempts were aimed at raising the living standards of our people, preserving public health, attracting the youth to sports, and keeping them away from joining hazardous and harmful, unfamiliar trends.

Our trampled and destined to be forgotten values, spiritual heritage, legacy of our scholars, who gave light to the world, were restored.

The president of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated that Islom Karimov’s name, who got our country and people through difficulties and hard times after achievement of freedom, must be on a par with the names of famous statesmen like George Washington, Charles de Gaulle, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Otabek was brought up in a family of educated people in Zarqaynar Makhalla of the Old City of Tashkent. The minarets of Hazrati Imam Complex, enriching the beauty of the city, can easily be observed from their house. He is the only child in the family, he studied in Uzbekistan National University Foreign Languages Department for both BA and MA degrees, and now doing his PhD regarding the history of Japan. He serves as a guide for Japanese travelers when he has free time from education. His father – Yusufbek – is a colonel of interior affairs. His mother – Kimyokhon – is from the genus of Kiyamiddin Ishan. Yusfbek, loyal to his family, respects Kimyokhon as required, and perhaps because of this the manners and behavior of this family can be examples for many.

Otabek was making his future plans in his room when his mother Kimyokhon appeared and said:

“Son, next week our neighbor has a wedding party, you know that I hope. They always participate in our ceremonies. A good family.”

“Mommy, I have guests from Japan. I guess I can’t attend the wedding…”

“Do not do so, son! You know neighborhood and they left an invitation as well. You are travelling much recently. Oh, these Japanese tourists! What would be if they do not come during wedding time?! Look at the mirror, you look pale. You could sit at home and do your translations instead! Now you are not young boy, you should stop wandering from city to city…”

“All right, mommy! I am planning so, there is a little left to finish my thesis.”

“We have discussed with your father and planning to marry you next year. Look at me! You look pale and drawn, I hope you are not ill. Or you have fallen in love with a Japanese girl?! Do not think of this even, you are my only child, be aware!” – said Kimyokhon, joking to her son.

Yes, who is who, but mothers immediately understand the changes in their children.

“Mommy, I met a girl in Samarkand, and I can’t forget her…”

“You, do not fall in love with the first one you meet in the streets, OK? I have planned to marry you with the daughter of a generous family. She has never gone out of her home. Your father accepted it positively. You will marry her. I am sure you will like her. You can’t find such a beauty even in Samarkand. That’s it!”

His mother left his room with no respect to his calling her afterwards…

3

Otabek spent that week at home. He attended the weeding party of his neighbor. Although he was in the wedding party physically but was still thinking of her with sincere eyes, and of her face flushed…

Otabek doesn’t believe in love. He thinks that love exists only in movies and books. In his thoughts falling in love is just a factor for getting married. Then kids come by, life problems and so on… Falling in love is natural. For instance, a beautiful girl is adored by everybody or a smart guy can be close to hearts and etc. …

As for the girl from Samarkand, it is true that she is beautiful. So what? Otabek is also a smart boy. And he is sure she will like him. And if Otabek ask her to marry him, for sure, she will consent to. Then a wedding party, kids…

What does love have to do with this? That is the matter. Otabek was struggling with himself to prove that. Reason confirms his thoughts, but his heart would not acknowledge it…

What is love? Love is a universal miracle that happens to everybody who reaches the age of majority. The one who is sick with love can walk in the universe in a second, no matter their legs are on the earth they are always flying. They don’t care for this world’s deeds, he is Majnun and he only thinks of his Layli… But unrealized love can show its power, and the beloved become a legend. For example, in the work of a great writer Abdulla Kodiriy “The past days” – two sincere hearts -Otabek and Kumush – love each other, they could live peacefully if there were not any bloodshed, various slandering and gossiping to keep them apart from each other, even such a book couldn’t have ever been written …

4

Raykhona changed her clothes and went out to the yard of the house, entered the kitchen to help her mother. Her mother realized the change in her daughter at once and said:

“You look different, is everything all right?”

“Everything is well, mommy. Today Japanese tourists bought bread from me. They pointed at me and talked with each other in their language, I couldn’t understand them. Then their guide approached us and said: “They say that you are a beautiful girl!” and I got embarrassed…”

“These Japanese know everything. I hope they haven’t jinxed you!” – her mother said and went out to light a harmala shrub.

Raykhona couldn’t tell the truth to her mother. Her embarrassment didn’t allow her to speak out. She couldn’t stop remembering the shining eyes of the guide…

What is it – is it love? No, this is not love. At first sight… Why does his deep stare shake her heart? She doesn’t know him at all. Maybe he has a family, kids and a wife?! If so, why the boy tried to say something to her but he couldn’t…

No, this can’t be love… perhaps it is love… Raykhona tried to calm herself with these thoughts. No matter and how hard did she try to erase the incident from her mind, the good-natured figure of the boy kept appearing in front of her eyes…

***

After his neighbor’s wedding Otabek guided Japanese tourists to Samarkand. They checked in the hotel at noon and he went to Siyab Bazaar, to stall of bread. There he couldn’t find the girl among the saleswomen. He returned without a word. The next day he again went there. Raykhona was selling bread.

“Good day to you! How do you do?” – he said to the girl. But he had no more strength to utter a word more – as if someone was taking away the earth from the bottom of his legs. He felt dizzy and couldn’t say a word. If truth be told he was planning to tell everything to her meaning to get acquainted with her, to say that he liked her and others. And as a result, when he saw the girl he forgot not only himself but also all the words he was planning to say. Raykhona also recognized him from the first sight – it was him who bought bread from her. The girls, selling bread, started whispering to each other, gesturing and murmuring. Their eyes met each other, their glances found each other…