The ocean

Firuz MUSTAFA

Writer, dramatist, philosopher, essayist

Firuz Mustafa was born in Azerbaijan Republic in 1952. He is author of over 40 scientific, philosophic and fiction books. His works have been translated into Russian, English, German, Arabian, Persian, French and other languages.

Tens of his plays were staged in various state theatres.
He is laureate of award named after Jafar Jabbarly and “Humay” Award.
He is chief of the section of dramatic acts of the Writers’ Union of Azerbaijan as well as constitutor and chief editor of the “Tadj” Newspaper and “Theatre” Magazine.
Presently Firuz Mustafa is a professor of the Baku Eurasian University.




Firuz MUSTAFA

THE OCEAN

(story)

The ocean was looking like blue sandy desert. The white “fortresses” mould by snow-ploughs i.e. snowdrifts reminded of awful living things. As though, these terrible “animals” had left the ocean waters and staying in queue, were waiting an order “Ahead!”
Sarvan was returning home after military service. When the tented truck of military unit drove the soldiers to railway station the young commander reviewed the tickets of everybody, coolly said “Good-bye!” to the demobilized ones and, jumping into the cabinet of the truck and shaking his hand he went back; it meant that you’re already free and may go anywhere you want…
Each of them should wait for own train. There was not a train going from the Far East to Baku; subsequently Sarvan should firstly leave for any northern city by train and from there he should by a ticket to plane and fly to the Motherland.
The train would depart in midnight. He should wait five or six hours and anyhow spend his time in this strange and cold city… His military friends took leave of each other. Most of them were Russian guys living in close cities and settlements and Sarvan was only who should go to southern side.
Taking leave of last soldier Sarvan left his bag in the luggage office and walked towards the ocean through the snowdrifts. The ocean was looking like endless sandy desert. The weather was frosty and Sarvan lifted up the collar of his overcoat.
Sarvan was slowly walking through the “fortresses” mould of snow and randomly smiling because of the memories about interesting moments of the completed military service.
Few people were staying on the shore of the ocean. In was growing dusky. The color of ocean was darkened and looking like tar.
Hearing the sound of steps crunching in snow Sarvan looked back and saw a woman in thick green overcoat having wrapped her face with scarf. Sarvan was observing the woman; she was looking like a young woman owing to her walking. Missing him with keen steps the woman walked towards the ocean as if somebody was waiting for her in these dark and awful waters.
Sarvan had got an opportunity far watching the woman. Any case, a lot of time for his train remained and it was necessary for him to spend or “kill” the time. He remembered the soldiers’ famous proverb: “As more a soldier sleeps as faster the military service completes”.
Although studying in secondary school Sarvan had heard a lot of love stories of elder guys in the military service, but within the period of own military service he had not any opportunity even for greeting any woman. This calm brunet completed his military service with sergeant rank.
Sarvan was everytime shy of speaking to girls; however, presently he felt some internal desire for getting acquainted with this woman in green overcoat. He accelerated his steps. A bit later he was walking nip and tuck with the woman among the snowdrifts.      
- Excuse me, where is the lunchroom here?
And suddenly, he realized the inanity of the words he said; however, it was too late because the arrow was already thrown by the bow.
Her answer didn’t delay:
- That’s there, in the middle of the ocean… You may go and eat anything you want.
Certainly, she was joking…
Both of them simultaneously laughed.
- Maybe, we would have a dinner together there, in the middle of the ocean?
These words were said by Sarvan.
Her next answer also was ready:
- All right, go ahead, I’ll follow you.
They laughed again.
As though realizing the woman’s dream, Sarvan went ahead and started walking with speedy steps over the sand being licked by the waves. He was looking like intending to jump into the dark and heavy waters.
- Hey, stop! Stay there!
It was the woman’s voice.
Sarvan stopped like a soldier obeying to commander’s order; and, whirling back over the heel, he put his right hand onto his tickle:
- Yes, ma’am! Please… What’s your order?
- You’ve left military unit, haven’t you?
- Yes, I have. I left it eternally without any intention to return there.
- Are you going home?
- Yes, I am.
- In which direction?
- To South…
- Caucasus?
- Yes… To Azerbaijan. Just listen, I’m quite serious, where is the lunchroom here?
- That’s there, on the shore of the ocean.
The two-storied building was roughly seen through the snow heap.
Sarvan slowed his steps:
- Maybe, we really would have a dinner together?
- I don’t mind…
They walked towards the lunchroom with slow steps.
Provided to be, this “woman” in a green overcoat was a beautiful girl with synophrys and grey eyes. Her white cheeks looking like snow were reddened by the frost.
Climbing on concrete stairs they reached the lunchroom. Sarvan took off his glove and caught the girl’s overcoat. Then, he took off his coat and extending his hand ahead invited the girl to the hall of the lunchroom.
- This way, please…
- Oh, thanks!
There were few people inside.
- But we didn’t become acquainted… My name is Sarvan.
- Mine is Elmira…
- Sorry?
- Elmira.
- Sarvan! Sergeant Sarvan Gayibov.
- Hospital nurse Elmira Yunusova…
- I think you’re also Azeri, aren’t you?
The girl loudly laughed:
- No, I’m pure Russian, without any mixtures…
- That’s strange…
- Yes, it is… It’s very rare name and surname in these regions.
- But generally, Russian people have not such name. Probably, you do not know yourself but you have Azeri roots…
- Let’s imagine that you’re right!
- Then let me call you “Elmira-khanym”.    
- That’s fine! I know, it’s the respected address to women in your language. I would only like it, Mr. Sergeant…
- Sergeant Sarvan Gayibov.
Both of them laughed.
Sarvan asked seriously:
- What would you like to eat, Elmira-khanym?
- I’ve no idea…
- I think there’s a preferential meal on the ocean shore…
- The fish?
- Yes, you guessed!
- I don’t mind…
Sarvan liked the girl’s quick wit and sincerity. They were speaking in various topics and randomly joking. Probably to be, the girl had come to this city on the ocean shore from Sakhalin, the place in the middle of big waters; graduating from the medical school she was going back, to Motherland. Occasionally, this beautiful girl also was intending to take leave of this city and the shore.
- I’ll leave for the far east but you’ll go to the far south…
- You’re right, each of us has own land of home.
A bit later they had fried fish on the table.
Looking at the girl’s white, tender and beautiful cheeks Sarvan carefully said:
- The weather is cold… If you want, we may drink anything for getting warm.
- I do not drink – she said and laughed. – I’m Azeri, a Moslem woman…
- Are you joking or serious?
- You behave like a child… Here is my passport. Take and see, what’s written there?
Sarvan thumbed through the passport and read it:
- Yunusova Elmira Muradovna. Nationality is Russian… Yes, you are right, you are from Sakhalin… I have nothing else to say. It’s strange that your patronymic is also ours: Murad. My uncle’s name also is Murad.
- Where is your uncle?
- At his home, together with his wife…
The girl laughed.
- My father is also at home, together with my mother. My father in engineer…
- My uncle Murad works in shop… Why you are not eating?
- If you want, you may drink, Sarvan.
- No, I don’t like to drink alone…
In sole, he laughed sarcastically over own response: “I don’t like to drink alone… As if being not alone I drink very much. Drinking couple of drops I lose my mind and become insane… I’d better say I cannot drink…”
They were talking eating the tasty ocean fish. Each of them was speaking interesting story about own life. As though, they had known each other for a long time and become witnesses of a lot of same events. A bit later, the names of their friends also became known; each of them was praising and quoting own friend.
Speaking to the girl Sarvan was reproaching himself: he should by the ticket for another day. He wished he were listening to his commander’s words; the young lieutenant seeing off the demobilized soldiers advised them not to hurry to leave but stay in this city, eat tasty fish and get acquainted with beautiful girls. Hereby, Sarvan had an opportunity both to taste fish and get acquainted with beautiful girl. Unfortunately, a bit later he should leave both the fish and the girl.
- I means, you will go by ship…
- Yes, I will, - answered the girl wiping her tender lips with napkin.
- Do you want me to give the ticket back and see you off?
Elmira narrowed her eyes:
- No… My aunt will see me off together with her husband… Besides, you should go, probably, you have already notified your family… You shouldn’t make people to wait a long. That’s OK, I will see you off. Don’t you mind my accompanying you?
- Sure… I’d be very happy, Elmira-khanym!
The girl seemed liking the word “khanym” very much.
- That fine! Let me wash my hands, I’ll come back now.
- Maybe, you want smoking? We may smoke together…
- Unfortunately, I don’t smoke…
While the girl was absent Sarvan lighted up a cigarette.
Sound of ocean and shaking waves were evidently felt here.
The passed years of military service were looking for Sarvan like unavailable. Although he served in the military town nearby, he saw the ocean such closely for the first time. Certainly, he would never come here back. This ocean might live in Sarvan’s memory only as incomplete table because he could neither see the ocean completely in the darkness of the evening nor restore it in own comprehension.
Elmira came back.
Sarvan left his thoughts.
- Your train will depart soon, won’t it?
- Yes, - Sarvan answered and rising his head, attentively looked at her attractive eyes.
She smiled:
- What’s happened? You’re looking at me so strangely…
Sarvan seriously and calmly said:
- You are beautiful…
Elmira laughed loudly:
- Maybe, you would take me to Caucasus?
Sarvan thought: maybe, it really would be better take Elmira his home? He may say to his parents that she is his acquaintance and came to get acquainted with south. How would his parents treat to it? Sarvan knew that they wanted to marry him to neighboring girl.
- You’re thinking too long… You’re afraid of your parents, aren’t you?
Sarvan hardly smiled:
- I’m afraid of nobody… If you want, we will go together.
- That’s another deal! Let’s agree: I like the sun very much. As I’ve heard, the most days in the south are sunny and hot. It’s cold season. We may write letters to each other and I’ll be your guest the next summer. Later, if you want and are not afraid of being behind the sea and ocean you also will come to Sakhalin and become my guest. Agree?
- Agree… A don’t mind!
- Then, give me your address. My address is here.
They stood up. Sarvan took the girl’s overcoat. Looking at Sarvan’s shining shoulder straps Elmira joked:
- Mr. General, do you need me to help you wearing your coat?
Sarvan laughed:
- No, I don’t. I’m still able to dress myself, I’m not too old.
- Let’s go. We will walk through the station and wait for your train…
Sarvan walked towards the waitress. Elmira called him?
- Where are you going?
- Just second.
- The meal is paid…
- Oh, no…
Elmira loudly laughed together with the waitress.
The waitress guessed Sarvan’s nationality looking and his appearance.
- Never think that only Caucasian people may be hospitable and lavish, - smiled the waitress.
- It’s impossible! – Sarvan stuttered.
Elmira seized his hand:
- Let’s go!
Sarvan was very upset.
Getting down the stairs of the lunchroom they started walking through snowdrifts.
The ocean was noisy.
They were silent.
They reached the station. The train had not come yet.
- Why are you silent, Sarvan? Just say something… Maybe, you’re tired? Let’s go and sit on the bench in that garden and rest. You look like drowsy.
The firs in the small park next to the station were staying close as though trying to warm each other.
Most of benches were covered with snow.
There was nobody in the park.
Dim lights of the station were seen nearby.
They stayed opposite to each other.
A bit later the girl’s hands were wrapped by the Sarvan’s hot palms; as if, little sparrow impacted by frost returned to the nest and tried to warm under the mother’s wing.
Their fingers seized each other.
The girl put her head on the Sarvan’s chest.
Sarvan closely embraced her.
The whistle of train was heard.
- Is that your train?
- Yes, it’s mine. But I don’t want to leave.
- We’ll write letters, Sarvan…
Deep silence appeared between them. Putting her head on Sarvan’s chest, the girl was stroking his shining shoulder straps.
The silence was collapsed by the girl’s whisper:
- It’s unbelievable…
- What is?
- We got acquainted and leave each other so early…
- Yes, it looks like a dream.
Elmira flinched and almost cried:
- A dream? How did you know?
- I knew what?
- This dream…
- What do you mean? I said it for no particular reason…
- Last night I dreamt about you…
- About me?
- Yes, about you…
Sarvan loudly laughed.
The girl was offended by his laughing. She turned back and walked towards the dim lights of the station. Sarvan followed her and said:
- Why are you offended? What did I say?
Elmira leaned against a light column and attentively glanced at Sarvan.
- It’s true! I mean the dream… I have seen our acquaintance in my dream. I’ll talk it to you in details later…
- Later? When?
- In our next meeting. We will certainly meet, in Baku or Sakhalin, there’s no difference.
- You are right!
They walked together to platform. Sarvan firstly took his bag from the luggage office. The most of the people looking at this tall brunet and white-faced girl in green overcoat wiping her beautiful eyes might think of them as husband and wife or engaged youth. May be, somebody thought that the guy returns to the military unit after long-term trip and subsequently the girl was crying. 
Sarvan entered the carriage and shook his hand to the girl through the tightly closed window. He had sorrow in his heart and this sorrow reminded him the untimely appearing snow. Sarvan was feeling that he would never forget this occasional meeting with Elmira. It was neither love nor a temporary feeling. But what was it in reality?
The girl’s dark silhouette was hardly seen in the darkness.
The train departed…
… Sarvan had written letters to Elmira for long years: before he accepted her letters in his rented apartment. Later, he often changed his rented apartments and asked Elmira to send letters to the Principal Post Office. Subsequently, the number of the letters sent from Baku to Sakhalin and vice versa gradually increased.
The letters sent from Sakhalin had very familiar and simultaneously strange smell. Later Sarvan realized that it is smell of the ocean. This smell was always taking him to snowy day, the ocean shore, the far eastern city being licked by awful waves.
Sarvan couldn’t invite Elmira to the south. Years later he married and became father. Temporarily he stopped to write letter to Elmira. He felt lot of things simple and useless.
Everytime Sarvan was passing near the Principal Post Office with strange feelings. He was sure that Elmira Muradovna Yunusova continues writing letters to him even if she was married. Maybe, in one of the letters which Sarvan didn’t read she described the impression of her dream because she had said that before she saw Sarvan in her dream and later in the life. But Sarvan couldn’t dare accept and read these letters, for the reason unknown even for himself.
The letters collected to the bag he brought from the military service still smelled like ocean. His family had never paid attention to this old bag put on the shelf in the balcony.
Sarvan didn’t dare to throw out these yellow letters smelling like ocean.