swallowed two powders and lay down on the couch. The powders took effect instantly, and she fell deeply asleep. Aman-Jalil cracked the door open and whistled. Husayn rushed in, seeing Dilber lying there, froze at the door.
– Why are you standing there like a statue? – Aman-Jalil whispered mockingly.
– I don't know what to do, – Husayn stammered.
– I don't either, let's think, – Aman-Jalil admitted his lack of preparedness, – first, let's undress her…
He clumsily began to undress Dilber. Husayn trembled like a leaf. Aman-Jalil stripped Dilber completely and inspected her body with interest.
– Why are you frozen, like a statue? – he addressed Husayn.
– I'm ashamed…
– Alright, I won't look at you, just undress.
Aman-Jalil turned away from Husayn and eagerly, with desire to see her body, so much so that his trousers swelled like a sail. Husayn shyly undressed, leaving only knee-length underwear, approached the divan, and hesitated.
– What next?
– Take off your underwear.
– No way!..
– Fool, the underwear will get in the way… Alright, lie down next to me.
– I prefer by the wall.
– Planning to make love to the wall?
– I can't with you…
– Fine, I'll leave. Call me if you need help…
Aman-Jalil stepped out onto the veranda. From his apartment, he heard Ismail Pasha's voice, who as usual had come to visit his mother. His mother wasn't home yet; she had gone to bathe, and queues were enormous everywhere. Hearing Ismail Pasha's voice, Aman-Jalil peeked into Dilber's room. Upon hearing Husayn crying loudly, he entered the room and firmly closed the door. Husayn lay next to Dilber, sobbing uncontrollably.
– Not a virgin? – Aman-Jalil asked with curiosity.
– It's not working for me, – Husayn whimpered.
– Silly, crying won't turn you into a child again, – Aman-Jalil sat on the divan. – Listen, drink two powders, sleep for an hour, you'll gain strength. Sleep refreshes and calms, my mother always says that…
Husayn eagerly drank two powders and instantly fell asleep. Aman-Jalil quickly undressed and took possession of Dilber.
– Virgin! – he grinned satisfactorily.
When Aman-Jalil got off the divan, he saw Ismail Pasha standing in the doorway.
– Sharing her together? – Ismail Bey couldn't take his eyes off Dilber's body.
– No, I'm alone, he can't do it.
– Have you been at this long?
– First time, I swear!
– Is she asleep?
– The powder worked… If you want, you can be second.
– Go, stand watch! – Ismail Bey trembled with desire.
– Twenty coins!
– What?.. That's steep!
– A young one on the street corner costs fifty. Here, you'll be second, I swear on my father.
– Fine, here, extortionist.
– Insulting me. You've still got thirty coins in your pocket…
Aman-Jalil jingled the coins in his pocket satisfactorily and went out onto the veranda to stand watch… Little flies swarmed over a drop of jam that had somehow landed on the windowsill. The burgeoning generation densely surrounded the sweet treat. Aman-Jalil fetched a rubber band and with three snaps created a bloody massacre at the feast.
He then practiced shooting flies in mid-air… Hearing his mother's voice as she returned from the bath, Aman-Jalil knocked on Dilber's door and cautiously peeked inside. Ismail Bey was hastily dressing. Aman-Jalil slipped into the room and closed the door behind him. When he turned around, he saw Ismail Bey doing something to Husayn. Aman-Jalil approached closer. Ismail Bey was smearing Dilber's blood onto Husayn.
– What are you doing?
– And he decided to marry her? Let him marry, we'll help him, people should help each other, what do you think, son?
– I still want to, but you should leave, mother's here, you'll leave her with nothing today.
– You don't know your mother well, young man!
Ismail Bey mischievously stepped outside, leaving Aman-Jalil with Dilber…
Later that evening, Dilber's parents caught their shameless daughter in Husayn's embrace; they were asleep. A wedding had to be arranged. Husayn was so happy, so overjoyed, he embraced Aman-Jalil and swore eternal friendship to him…
Aman-Jalil poured tea into the cups and pondered how to get out of this tea-drinking.
– Go, bring me… – he ordered the driver, – French cognac. Men need cognac for such meetings. Let the women drink tea; we'll warm up differently.
The driver was eager. Hoping to get a drink himself, he hastily carried out the task. But Sardar Kareem refused the cognac.
– I don't drink wine!
– Oh, what a devout Muslim you are! Give a few coins to the mullah; he'll absolve all your sins for the next week.
– I don't go to the mullah.
– Well, that's not good; you don't want to drink with a friend.
– I prefer tea; you yourself said we've never had anything like this…
Nevertheless, Aman-Jalil poured him cognac despite any objections.
– Leave it there; if you want, you can drink it.
But Sardar Kareem didn't touch the cognac and continued drinking tea.
– Top quality! – he complimented, taking a sip.
– Drink up; I have plenty. If you want, I'll leave a pack for you.
Aman-Jalil and the driver toasted "to the health of
