Ali

In the Caucasus Mountains, people often said that a person's destiny is written long before they even begin to understand it. She knew she would marry one day. In their area, this happened early, and the decision was usually made by the family. But for now, it seemed distant, almost unreal. One evening, her father called her into the room. Her mother was sitting next to him, serious and a little tense. “They found a good groom for you,” the father said calmly.

She knew it was pointless to argue. In their tradition, elders made such decisions...all she could do was listen. Only one thing was playing in her head: a stranger would become her husband. She wore a long embroidered dress, her hair neatly styled, and a colorful scarf with gold and silver patterns, fastened with a thin silver chain with small pendants. She sat quietly, barely raising her eyes, while the older women adjusted her dress and quietly offered advice about her future life.

He asked if she was tired. Sometimes he brought sweets or fruit from the market. If he saw that she was worried, he would simply sit next to her and start a conversation about simple things. One day at a family dinner, Ali's mother started talking about the future. She sat at the head of the table, like the hostess of the house, and spoke confidently: — The young couple will live here. She will become a kelin in our house. But Ali suddenly said calmly:

• No

The table became quiet. “What do you mean ‘no’?” Mother looked at him sternly. He spoke calmly, but there was firmness in his voice. “I didn’t take her as my wife so that she would be a kelin.”

A man began building a small house on the edge of a village. He told almost no one about it, simply gradually getting involved in the construction: visiting the site, supervising the work, and sometimes helping out himself. From the outside, it looked as if he'd planned everything out in advance.

Some more time passed, and the house was finally finished. It wasn't large, but it was neat and warm: light-colored walls, wooden windows, and a small courtyard. When the moving day came, they moved their things in. “This is our home now,” he said, looking at his wife.

In the Caucasus Mountains, people often said that a person's destiny is written long before they even begin to understand it. She knew she would marry one day. In their area, this happened early, and the decision was usually made by the family. But for now, it seemed distant, almost unreal. One evening, her father called her into the room. Her mother was sitting next to him, serious and a little tense. “They found a good groom for you,” the father said calmly.

She knew it was pointless to argue. In their tradition, elders made such decisions...all she could do was listen. Only one thing was playing in her head: a stranger would become her husband. She wore a long embroidered dress, her hair neatly styled, and a colorful scarf with gold and silver patterns, fastened with a thin silver chain with small pendants. She sat quietly, barely raising her eyes, while the older women adjusted her dress and quietly offered advice about her future life.

He asked if she was tired. Sometimes he brought sweets or fruit from the market. If he saw that she was worried, he would simply sit next to her and start a conversation about simple things. One day at a family dinner, Ali's mother started talking about the future. She sat at the head of the table, like the hostess of the house, and spoke confidently: — The young couple will live here. She will become a kelin in our house. But Ali suddenly said calmly:

• No

The table became quiet. “What do you mean ‘no’?” Mother looked at him sternly. He spoke calmly, but there was firmness in his voice. “I didn’t take her as my wife so that she would be a kelin.”

A man began building a small house on the edge of a village. He told almost no one about it, simply gradually getting involved in the construction: visiting the site, supervising the work, and sometimes helping out himself. From the outside, it looked as if he'd planned everything out in advance.

Some more time passed, and the house was finally finished. It wasn't large, but it was neat and warm: light-colored walls, wooden windows, and a small courtyard. When the moving day came, they moved their things in. “This is our home now,” he said, looking at his wife.