Hovhannes from Drmbon

And life lasts longer than life

According to the stories of the noble grandmother Satenik of a friend of mine from Karabakh.
               
Everything flows, everything changes,
only the foundations of human existence
from the depth of centuries to the present day are immutable …



Hovhannes woke up at the crack of dawn, and his wife Arus was already doing housework. Summer days here begin quite the same. First, cattle are cared after - cows, buffaloes, with their bobby calves, oxen and bulls. For cows, bulls, buffaloes, sheep, goats, a common enclosure was organized on rural slopes, which for many centuries had been spring-summer-autumn pastures here, indispensably controlled by one of the owners, acting as a shepherd, according to an order established on the basis of mutual agreement. As for calves, lambs, goatling and poultry, everything was much easier; they were kept in homestead pens until the evening. As for pigs, as a rule, the main stock, from early spring till late autumn, was kept on a pasture, in rural forests, where centuries-old oaks and hornbeams, wild pear and apple trees, medlar, cornel, different nuts and many other trees with edible and non-edible fruits grew. As a rule, small livestock was also kept on the basis of cooperation of several owners. And the number of days of shepherding corresponded to the population of their own livestock. And between the days of shepherding, the much needed time for work in their own gardens and fields was freed...
Today is one of the relatively free days for Hovhannes.  Today he can go to his plot of wheat land, adjacent to a small farming area and a small garden, located in the east, on the right bank of the river. In the garden, called bostan, on the near bank of the river, green beans are crawling in full blast up the poles, with already formed chubby green pods, new potatoes can already be dig out, and at least one in three corn cobs on the corn stalks are already ripe. Last week he already brought home four corn cobs, which Arus cooked to the delight of children. They do love boiled corn cob with salt. Later, at the beginning of September, when the whole harvest is ripe, they will relish corn cobs grilled on hot coals. But now, early in August, Hovhannes has to prepare for haymaking in order to have time to stock up on hay for the winter. The haymaking period in these places is special. First everyone is busy with their own lot, and because of being so engaged, it seems like people do not notice each other, they hardly communicate.
 Perhaps in the beginning, simply because of severe fatigue, there is not enough energy to communicate. Such days in these places do not happen often, just a couple of weeks in a year. But by the second week, people begin to notice each other, visit neighbors to encourage them with a kind word and see the result of their work.
Equipped with a scythe and having swung onto the back of Buyan, a forked stick, aimed for stacking brushwood and a saddlebag-khurjin with food, Hovhannes headed to the eastern outskirts of the village, in the direction of the Terter river. The road to the lot took no more than an hour. From afar, it became noticeable that the garden had become greener and the field had turned yellow. Yes, there should be a lot of bread and a good harvest this year, thought Hovhannes, glaring around the field, the lot and the garden, based on his many years of observations.
Reflexively, he mentally shared his mood with Buyan, casting a glance at his old assistant and faithful companion. It was as if Buyan understood the joy and high spirit of the master. He did not in any way show his understanding, but walked in a measured step across the entire field. At the end of the field, he, out of habit, obediently stopped under the furthest wide-crowned hornbeam, under which Hovhannes usually took off the saddle-palan and other load. So on that day too, he hung the khurjin on a hornbeam branch, worn out from repeated use, removed the phalan from Buyan and entered the garden through the gate. Before opening the gate, Hovhannes, out of habit, checked if there were any unwanted guests. Usually, before leaving, each time he put behind the gate some pebble in a shaky and remarkable position, which other than by animals, could only be knocked down by unwanted guests, and he memorized the simple position. As always, the pebble was intact at the same place. Of course, the unwanted guests could enter the garden through the blackthorn fence. But why should they jump over a thorn fence, when they could safely enter through the gate which was not locked in a way other than a rope ring, tying together the post and the frame of the gate? Theft is extremely rare in these places. Nevertheless, some not unfounded rumors are going about a few villagers with sticky fingers. And, of course, these few corrupt fellow villagers, tagged “smugglers”, cast a shadow on their whole family. This was the reason why the strict fellow villagers tagged whole families in the village with some unflattering epithets. This refers to the Pyarunts and Balasanants families. Which does not mean that there are no honest and decent people among them. On the contrary, most of them are. But, in every case of horse-stealing, cattle-stealing, or every time someone’s hens, ducks, lamb, goats or other are stolen, in short, in every case of theft, they turn out to be the first in the list of suspects.
In fairness, it should be noted that, in cases of theft when the conversations take on a threatening turn, by pure accident, the loss is always found right away, putting an end to all the talks. Or rather, those guilty are gravely castigated by family and relatives. As for stealing fruits and vegetables from the gardens, usually they are kids fooling around. Some – out of a genetic tendency to take what belongs to someone else -  others, without thinking twice, give in to someone else’s influence. Typically, at this time of the year, almost all gardens have similar fruits, making it unnecessary to steal.
Hovhannes walked around the garden, like a padishah in his empire. He would adjust a twig here and there, check apples, pears, plums, cherries or grapes for ripeness. He noticed that lobi (green bean) require watering. It should be noted that the attitude to lobi is special here. Everyone grows their own variety; some even can identify the garden, where this or that variety of lobi was grown. It should be noted that Hovhannes had chal - motley and excellent variety, inherited from distant ancestors, through his grandfather. Legend has it that this variety was brought back from that homeland, which remained on the other side of the Noah’s mountain. As long as he can remember, after the harvest, he picked the largest and healthiest beans for seeds. Of course, one often has to share seeds with other fellow villagers, which, however, does not guarantee that they get the green beans of the same taste. It seems that there is something sacred, mystical, spiritual, which is passed down from generation to generation. And the truth is, after all, every bean of this variety contains a piece of pain and soul of his ancestors. Lobi in these places is traditionally valued as much as meat. It is unlikely that anyone can explain it scientifically, but well-prepared lobi tastes no worse and is no less satisfying than a pork or lamb meat. And the variety of dishes with lobi is not less than meat dishes. Green seedpods can be cooked and fried with vegetables. And  there is nothing like well-cooked dry beans, combined with hot bread baked in turun-tandoor. What else is lobi good for? For ripening and bearing fruit all summer and even all of September. And also for the fact that after its final harvest in early October, you can immediately plant garlic in its place. Garlic, pleasing the eye, like February fair-maids, will make green arrows break through the thickness of the melting February snow, notifying people of the long-awaited spring. In addition, the annual unfailing fertility of the bean crop allows you to exchange it for something useful, whether it is a carpet, woolen or cotton threads, household utensils, or even domestic animals. In short the lobi is the goods that feeds people and helps them meet their needs.
Armed with a shovel, Hovhannes went to the canal, flowing from the river, much higher upstream. From here he directed the flow of water required for irrigation of the lot and the garden. He goes along the canal with measured steps, adjusting the direction of the torrent with the tip of the shovel.
After watering the garden, corn and sunflower, which have already outgrown him, he proceeds to fixing the saris - wooden poles up to five centimeters in diameter, at least two meters long. He sticks them deeper into the soil, soft after watering, so that they can withstand the swirling currents of the wind, which will blow out more than once, before the end of harvesting. They have to also endure the weight of the crop.
Before the sun rose to its zenith, Hovhannes walked across the field. True, the cornfield has gone solid. But, the soil required moisture, in some places cracks had already begun, which tended to open more and lengthen. Of course, one could do with a bit of rain but in early August, rains are rare here, therefore, it only remains to rely on the strength of the roots of an eared cornfield.
Hope and a strong desire to get a good harvest filled the soul of Hovhannes. His thoughts ran upon several years, rich in crops. For some reason, he most clearly recalled the year, back when his father and mother were alive, when the year was prolific for wheat and corn. When they managed to exchange grain for a pair of oxen, which went on to serve them dutifully and obediently for many years, and enabled a qualitative and quantitative improvement in their life in the future. Of course, the oxen are irreplacable during the planting season, they scrupulously and loyally pull the luc (yoke) to plow the ground, lightening the top layer of soil, making it easier for the grains to grow. Normally, Hovhannes with his oxen managed to help his numerous relatives and fellow villagers. In fairness, it should be noted that few of these people treated the good deeds of Hovhannes without due gratitude, everyone tried, to the best of their abilities, to be useful to him. Overall, mutual assistance here, among other things, presupposes mutual usefulness. For many years, the shoulders of the descendants of those two oxen and brothers of Buyan bear the entire burden during the annual sowing, harvesting, haymaking and stocking up firewood for the winter. Now, the oxen, Kor and Bekor, led by a devoted donkey, Buyan, continue to obediently do these good deeds. Buyan would probably not mind to give up the leadership in the daily work to the oxen. However, if the oxen were absolutely irreplaceable when it comes to plowing and summer harvesting, the rest of the time they were absolutely at a loose ends. As a rule, they were not involved in everyday routine. It can be said that by local standards, they lead an idle life in the pen, being supplied with the necessary amount of food. At days like that Buyan carried his daily burden; however, at days of physically demanding job for the oxen, he also had enough to do. Long story short, Buyan was absolutely irreplaceable in the family of Hovhannes Avanesyan. Buyan gave all the possible support to the villagers, when Hovhannes kindly provided him for short-term use in order to carry their load. Hardly someone can recall the case when Hovhannes refused to help anyone.
The propensity for virtue and the natural need to be useful to others were one of the main foundations of life at all times in these places. The Avanesyan family could certainly be attributed to those to whom people looked up to. Even at their old country, as legend has it, his ancestors were famous for virtue. Apparently, this, too, was one of the life purposes for his family. However, the same could be said of many other families in Drmbon. In is fair to say the spirit of mutual assistance is found everywhere here, and rarely, they show indifference and aloofness to others. Besides, in Sunday schools, in the junior classes, attended by all children under the age of ten, they instill the god’s commandments, and other Christian qualities. And what kind of Christian is void of compassion and virtue towards his neighbor? Following the commandments of Christ naturally became the basic standard of life for these people. However, the mutual assistance was not less observed both among the followers of Islam, the Caucasian Tatars, and among the pagan Kurds and Yezidis living in neighboring villages. It might have been far from perfect, from the point of view of all religious teachings, but the internal need and predisposition to moral perfection were seen everywhere, regardless of the religion of the population. None of the universally recognized human vices was justified by the locals. Nevertheless, in these parts of the world people too committed acts that received universal scorn and disapproval. It usually ended with the offender admitting his guilt, repenting and sincerely asking for forgiveness. It could not be otherwise. Representatives of each of the religions present in these parts, treat a person’s sinfulness with the same degree of severity and condemnation.
  Although, in such circumstances, if, of course, the trespass was not classified as murder or malicious crime by the supreme authorities, it only required repentance to God, people and himself. It happened also that some sinned and, inevitably were forced to beg for forgiveness, voluntarily or not.
At the same time, everyone felt an inner need for self-purification before the Maker. It was how the Christian essence of the locals showed, those who identify as followers of Christ, predetermined by their ancestors over 15 centuries ago. All possible doubts about matters of the universe and worldview are refuted by an internal predisposition to follow the voice of the Reason from the Holy Scriptures. They say, all over the world, throughout the whole wildlife, there is a visible or invisible struggle for existence, a struggle for survival, which in these parts has been transformed into self-sacrifice and mutual assistance. To be helpful to each other and to provide all possible assistance, if necessary, is taken for granted by the locals. Many have inherited their household from their venerable ancestors. Well, and of course, they also manage to create some goods by themselves – by daily hard work. And if doubts about any injustice flashed in one's thoughts, they were dispelled, interpreted as the God's providence or the God's will. As for such a human vice as envy, it is precisely by God's dispensation that it is forbidden. Envy is practically non-existent among the ordinary people here. It could also be predetermined by their particular spirituality, the ability to be content with and enjoy little life achievements and successes. It turns out that the easier and more inspired a person performs his routine and duties, the happier he perceives life. Obviously, few here are able to explain such subtle aspects of their mortal existence in such detail. Only a curious outsider, who was trying to characterize life in these parts at the end of the 19th century, could get this idea …
Hovhannes continued his observations of his household. The crop is ripening. Very soon they will need to start harvesting, which has a special meaning and special significance here. Everyone, with no exception, young and old, is involved in this process. Not to lose precious time, young mothers downgrade their little ones and even newborn children on the list of priorities and bring their best self to the common cause – to gather the crops and store them safely and for long. The attitude to the harvest and the good received through hard work is special here. At the same time, it can be noted that the most important and demanding things are done here quietly, without much ado.
Obviously, the need for good organization and concentration of people, as well as the deeply-rooted centuries-old consistency, which has turned into traditions, while  performing of the most responsible and important duties has led to the fact that no words were required for absolute mutual understanding. Apparently, this became possible, because everyone, small and big, clearly understood their obligations and faithfully fulfilled them. To reap, to bind together the sheaves to let them dry and to take them to the thrashing floor to separate the grains, shimmering gold in the hot summer sun, from the stems. Of course, all this grain is later separated from all the grass and waste. This process of grain cleaning is called giving grain to the wind. Everyone is engaged in the process, except the smallest ones, who are looked after by older children, sometimes their mothers come to them to breastfeed and wash their little bottoms. Short night gatherings under a warm and fresh starry sky are of particular importance here, when everyone, after dinner and evening hassle, gathers around the fire. Some roast potatoes in the fire, some roast corn or beans, others - an unripe spikelet, with green grains of wheat. This is what replaces nights out in big cities. When people have fun, communicate, tell each other all kinds of fables and absurdities sing the songs from older times, and enjoy life. They share the words that have saved up during the life-affirming day. It is at such moments that young people, caring guys and girls, have a rare opportunity to exchange some words and special glances, outgoing from the depths of their soul. It is at such moments that the very magic happens, when the young boys and girls choose each other, which will later lead to the continuation of life. If adults at first pretend they see nothing remarkable, the younger boys and girls, who already understand what is happening, are not as good at being reserved. They are whispering about something among themselves all the time, throwing a meaningful glance at this or that young man or girl. They could even afford to giggle meaningfully from time to time. Only the darkness of twilight at such moments hid traces of embarrassment and confusion at the faces of young people.
The adults, recalling their youth, knew for sure that these days will remain forever in the memory of young people. And the young did not care to think about what was happening, they simply enjoyed the boundless happiness that fell upon them, to be loved and to have the happiness of loving someone. From now on, this was a state of bliss when, a mere sight of a lover made the whole body sink in into felicity, ceasing to see the reality. And a gentle, so much desired, and even completely accidental contact, could make you lose your mind.  Well, as for hugs and kisses, young people could only dream about it in their most incredible dreams. Until the end of their lives, each of them will recall these moments, as the highest point of human bliss and delight. As a rule, with rare exceptions, the final choice of young people is predetermined by the very first glance, invisible to the others, in which a spark strikes, that no device created by human genius, can capture. And when all this goes so far that young people can afford to hug and kiss, then this will certainly mean that at the end of the harvesting season, there will be a new family in the village. Of all human vices in these parts, the least manifested here is what we call gossips. However, its final eradication is out of question. Maybe it's not so bad. For, no deed, good or reproachable, is overlooked by the people. Of course, it is mostly women of different ages who share and spread all sorts of news and gossip. But men, with all their apparent restraint and secretiveness, are not averse to seizing the opportunity to bring women into conversation in order to learn something interesting from them. Alas, here, as elsewhere, people cannot be completely indifferent to the fate of the compatriots. And what is compassion without awareness? Another issue is that the desire to receive some information about others is exclusively aimed at eliminating anything negative or objectionable from the public. Any interaction when people meet, regardless of age, gender and status, begins with a greeting, and smoothly passes on to questions, about life, health, relatives, children, family, so on and so on. And communication between young people and older people usually acquires a preaching tone, which comes down to moral teachings from the adults. Few of the young people were allowed to oppose this; however, not every adult could afford to lecture the young people. For this two important circumstances should come together. To have at least some authority, and a certain worldliness, which can be inherent only to a person with a lot of life wisdom. Obviously, all of the above is directly related to our hero, Hovhannes Avanesyan. He, like so many here, went through all these stages of becoming one of the most respected person in Drmbon ...
After a long walk around every square foot of the land, having studied and checked every bush, every tree, every bean bush, having walked up and down the whole corn and wheat field with slightly yellow spikelets, in the afternoon heat Hovhannes settled under the majestic hornbeam, to rest. He had a good feed from what was inside the fardel in khurjin - a pair of eggs, matsun with cheese, onions and bread. Then, after a short rest, he began to get ready to go home. He gathered half a khurjin of lobi and a dozen more green corns to take home. The floodplain of the Terter river is always rich in useful firewood. Stormy streams of water, during the rainy season in the highland and during the spring tide, overflow the banks and carry huge stones and big and ancient trees and branches. Thin branches are always in good supply here, many use them as brushwood for small stoves called “bourgeois” and tandoor. Having collected enough of the logs, and, neatly, branch-to-branch, laying them together on Buyan’s back, having thrown off the khurjin, Hovhannes, as usual, closed the gate and slowly followed in the direction of the house ...