Читать книгу The late requiem. Story book - Mushfig Khan - Страница 3

***

Past two months we graduated school. Despite being unappealing girl, Sveta immediately got engaged after graduation. Her fiancé was handsome young man. But Gulnaz was still waiting her prince on a white horse.

The days quickly passed by. After final exam our school life will be over. I was preparing very seriously to all my exams, and it made my mother happy. I was the only happiness in her life and she worried about me a lot. Unfortunately, my mother didn’t want to hear anything about what will be after exams. She had big plans, related with my future life…

Her plans didn’t attract me. She wants that “get married, be a teacher, as Nadejda Alexandrovna, and teach the children at village’s school and go on…

But every night I dreamed about absolutely different things. I wanted to go to the front and finish my father’s mission. I didn’t know if it would have end or not. I knew exactly – I didn’t want to fall in love. What can be better than love to the motherland? Protecting and struggling for her – were the real targets for bright future! For every soldier there wasn’t better lover than love to homeland.

Homeland doesn’t need the names of the heroes. People must perpetuate their memory. Remember – strength is in unity and in courage. You couldn’t only be hero in words, in photos or on the pictures in book. Faith in victory and love to homeland – were the real qualities of real hero.

***

– For our country! – I was woken up by my own voice. I tried to stand up, but strong pain in the left shoulder held me down to the bed. I didn’t remember how long I had been sleeping. What happened? Where was I? The room around me was poorly lit and nobody was nearby. The smell reminded me hospital’s room. One more attempt to move failed. Different hoses were hanging over my head, pouring blood and compressing my hands. I was fifteen minutes in half – sitting position. Gradually, the memory returned to me. It was probably the 14th or 15th or may be 16th of April. Last time, I had received assignment from commander of our regiment Jamal Gasimov on 12th of April. I exactly remembered the place of enemy sniper and how I gauged. But unfortunately, I became a target myself. There was no point in sorting through different assumptions. I was injured, but alive. The only thing that caused disappointment was that I missed dangerous sniper, called “Berlin’s fox”. It was late for the pity. During last three years I was always in the forefront and didn’t have a chance to visit mom. Imagine three long years separated from her…

If there was tiny opportunity, without any doubts I would go to the battlefield. Thinking about what could happen, I was waiting that someone would open the door. The sound of footfalls, coming from a distance were approaching, but rarely reaching the door, again disappeared. But it didn’t last long. This time the door opened without knock. Nurse caught me open – eyed, quickly ran in the hallway. I didn’t even have a chance to say anything. Actually I didn’t check my voice – maybe I became dumb. But it was impossible, because I waken up by my scream. Let’s check! I got up the nerve and yelled towards the door:

– Who is there?

– Daughter!

O Heavens that was my mom. Apparently, the nurse ran to rejoice my mother. At that time I wished to have wings and fly to mom. She was also confused and couldn’t understand what to do. She stopped for a while and just stared at me, before giving a hug. Mother could scarcely believe her eyes.

Mother’s hug is the best remedy. Forgetting about the pain in my shoulder, I tried to get up snuggle with the most precious person in the world. How has she become so weak during these 3 years…

It seemed that hundred years passed, since that day, when everyone called Ziba as “Sunshine”.

– Stubborn girl! Nevertheless, you followed in father’s footsteps.

– Mooooommm…

– You had already grown up, became a hero, I can’t scold you.

– Mom, what happened?

– Oh, I behaved badly-she laughed from the heart, although she was in deep brooding few minutes ago.

I didn’t understand anything:

– Why?

– I’d broken surprise…

– Mom, darling, what do you talk about? Maybe you have decided to marry me off today?

– Oh, my naughty girl. This will also happen, don’t hurry up, just get better.

– As soon as, I get better, I’ll back to the front.

– My sweetheart, the war is approaching to the end. Don’t think about front.

– If only…

– Ziba… – Mom interrupted her.

– My darling…

– My child, do you want to know about surprise?

– Mom, tell me, finally-both of them laughed.

– Daughter, you are awarded to the medal “For Bravery”.

– Come on, mom, don’t joke around.

– I am absolutely serious, my daughter, my hero! My brave girl!

Commander asked me not to tell you about medal, but I couldn’t. I was very happy!

– Hold on, I’ve get over it – I answered. – Is my commander in Baku? Why? Why was I awarded to a medal?

– Jamal Gasimov arrived in Baku to visit you. According to him you killed very dangerous and famous German sniper. That’s why you’d been awarded.

– My heart began beating very fast.

– What was his name? – I wanted to know without concealing my emotion.

– I didn’t know my dear daughter. He would tell everything himself, when he’d come. If I was not mistaken, he had strange nickname, something related to Berlin or fox.

– Don’t worry. Stitches still hadn’t fused.

I hold my mom tightly.

A miracle happened. But I didn’t know how. The most important thing was that Berlin’s fox was dead. I couldn’t wait Jamal Gasimov’s visit and counted minutes. Until I was thinking about, what mom told me, the doctor asked her to let me alone for a while. I had to recover after serious wound. Doctors considered as a miracle, even fact that I survived.

****

After mom’s story I couldn’t get a wink of sleep. I was totally exhausted, but questions in my head demanded answers. But Gasimov still hadn’t come…

I remembered 5—6 years old, that happened, when I was 14—15. On the frontline I often thought about childhood. At that moment I could feel dad nearby. He thought me, how to choose target, shoot and fire rifle. “Fearless” was absolutely new and bullets flied in the blink of an eye. Then dad didn’t feel any pain. Hands were not shaking. It was interesting that father always supported my wish to grow as boy.

I know exactly only one thing – he loved me as mad and gave everything. According to mom, few days before my birth he had been injured deadly. Like me – in a left shoulder.

The gold points of a real sniper. For a long time, he had been in coma. The doctors didn’t believe, he would wake up again. When I was born, mom called the hospital and asked doctor to tell him good news. When father heard this, he immediately opened eyes and several days later he was transferred to regular room. He often called me his Angel.

A quiet knock on the door returned me to reality. Doctor wouldn’t knock. So my commander came. Heart jumped out of my chest.

– Come in – I said loudly.

The door opened. This was my commander! He was in the civil clothes. O Heaven! I’ve noticed how handsome he was! Gently slicked black hair, gentle gaze just charmed me. I was slightly confused. Suddenly I stood up.

– No, no, Ziba, you shouldn’t be up. Lie down and don’t worry, – my commander called me by name for the first time.

I thanked him for the flowers, and the box in his hands caught my attention. It was my medal, of course. But I pretended that I have no idea about it. He moved his chair closer to me.

– How do you feel? – asked commander with kind smile.

– You are here, so everything will be ok – whispering these words, I looked at him.

– I have excellent news for you. I don’t know how to begin my story.

His words forced my heart to beat quickly. I tried to keep calm, I couldn’t extradite my mom. Expectation was fighting with time.

– Say something. I started worrying.

Open box attracted my sharp attention of sniper. Why was commander so embarrassed? He had faced all hardships of war. Couldn’t he just give medal and be happy with me?

I believed that Jamal Gasimov would answer all my questions, arising after mom’s story. I felt how tension was growing.

– Do you know, what is in this box? – He cut the silence.

This time I couldn’t hide my emotions and cried out:

– I know, comrade commander! My mom told about everything! There is medal for me.

– No guessing! – He said, trying to get up the nerve.

My cheeks blushed. I was confused. How could he say “No”? I’ve just tried to open my mouth, he opened the box and handed me. All my body was trembling. The thing in box said everything for Jamal. Nobody could say better. I didn’t know what to do. I had to say something, but I’ve decided to keep silent. He started. Finally, he looked in my eyes and popped the question.

– Ziba, will you marry me?

This was the best thing, I’ve ever heard. The words gave me warm and happy feeling. Instead of saying something I’ve squeezed his hand. It was enough to understand my answer. He got closer to me and stood up a little for giving him a hug. Something special happened between us in that moment. We were connected to each other through subtle threads.

Then he pulled out medal from his left pocket.

– Berlin’s fox could injure you, but you picked up his life. I am proud of you, Ziba!

I felt like, all world was mine.

Motherland brought me my hero Jamal.