TURMOIL

his relative, it was impossible not to know her real name. “Zhylkaydar.” “Wow! Zhylkaydar! What a lousy name. Turns out he’s just horse rider. Zhylkaydar Madiev! With such a name, one shouldn’t be a writer, but a livestock specialist on a collective farm. But Jasyn – wow! That’s a name that corresponds to a great writer who can strike like lightning!” “Bagila, is he really your relative?” “Yes.” “Why didn’t you tell me? Introduce me, okay?” “What great news! What treats are we getting to celebrate!” A lanky guy stuck his head through the crowd. His head was large, and his neck was long and thin. In the summer, when they wore only shirts, his head looked like a boxing glove, put on a stick. Hiding this flaw, in summer and winter, instead of a tie, he wore a nylon handkerchief around his neck. “Oh, you’ll get treats!” the girl smiled. “A glass of mango and a raisin pie!” “I’ll take it!” The guy hugged her. “Oh, go away!” the girl said, pushing him away from her. “Why do you want to get to know him anyway?” The guy did not let up. “Firstly, he is married, and secondly, he has two children.” “So what! For love, this isn’t a barrier.” The bell rang. The students trudged into the auditorium. Bagila, not knowing what to do, stood in thought. A student grabbed her hand. “Taklamakan is coming! Let’s go to the classroom!” The teacher who read the “History of the Ancient World” was named Taklamakan. He often used “so” in his speech, in addition, he had a monstrous bald head, and the students called him “Taklamakan Desert”. It is not known when this nickname originated, but it was passed down from alumni to freshmen. Over time, the word “desert” disappeared and the nickname “Taklamakan” remained. “Zhanat, can you bring me my purse!” Bagila turned to her friend. She quickly flew into the auditorium. “Are you coming back?” “Yeah, in an hour.” “Are you going on a date with Jasyn?” Bagila winced. “Don’t worry, nothing wrong with that. Say hello for me. I immediately realised that you are relatives the same way me and Alla Pugacheva are. Well, good luck! Disappear quickly, Taklamakan looms near!” Bagila ducked into a nook in the corridor. They settled down at the last table of a nearby cafe. Jasyn ordered coffee, lemonade, champagne and a

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