E fundit!

22:51 TODAY

Businessman Artur Shehu breaks his silence: I am a long-time land owner in Zvërnec, I don't know the investors at all

Albanian businessman Artur Shehu spoke on the Opinion show...

FOUR PEOPLE AND TWO SUITCASES

2024-12-15 08:58:00, Kulturë Agim Xhafka

Illustrative photo

Lejla remembers in detail that day many years ago. Ever since she climbed the stairs of the palace, she was out of breath, not as a 65-year-old, but as a student, even a first-year student. He didn't even enter the elevator, remember. It seemed to her that she would arrive late with him to the fifth floor where she lived with Ligor, her husband of 50 years.

They met at university, they were the same age, they fell in love from the first months and since then they slept in the same bed and woke up in the mornings smiling at each other. The routine that was not affected by quarrels or quarrels, which were somewhat frequent at first, then rare, but the dawn of light brought them together. As if nothing had happened. The morning with his brush drove away the night together with the grudge of the couple.

When Lejla reached the door, she stuck her finger on the bell button and did not open it. Non stop is used today. Ligori opened it, shocked. As soon as he asked, his wife closed his mouth with her hand, where the rings and nails were covered with nail polish.

- I had a coffee with Berta, - he started.

Berta is their only daughter.

- Huh! - urged Ligori.

- We talked a lot, but you know what he told me?

He was silent for a while. The man did not ask. That's what he often did whenever there was talk of surprises. And it was not late.

-Oh, he told me. - Now you and dad are retired, so let's say you are old. I wish you a long life, have endless fun with travel, with restaurants, with company. Spend all the savings, if it doesn't work out, sell all the properties, don't think about me at all. And..

Silence again. Again, Ligori did not ask. Yes, he realized that it was a beautiful thing that her green eyes were more bought.

- And if one of you, he told me, after many, many years will be left alone, I assure you that he will not be alone. I will take it to my house. There won't be a single day of loneliness for you.
That's what Lejla said and sat down on the couch. He was waiting for Gole's reaction. The man had taken on a serious look. Since he felt young and had good health, he was a little shocked when he heard the phrase, "when one of them ran away, the other would be taken by the girl".

Until that day, he never thought that he would not live after some time. Normally, he wouldn't be immortal, the spoons in the neighborhood wouldn't spin, but he had plans and dreams for at least the next 30 years. I will definitely catch the 90-year-old, you say to yourself. Meanwhile, he was doing arithmetic about how old his grandson would be then. What about my niece? Lejla brought it into his mind to slowly get ready. Yes, but this conversation was also a little warm, with white colors, that is. That life is full of traps. I leave the house and fall down the stairs. Where the stairs ask how old are you, no! Or on the street, a drug addict comes on a motorcycle, jumps on the pavement and hits you. He does not ask, uncle, what is your name, where did you work, how was your health. Not only that, he remembered Titi, his age, gathering alone in the apartment where his wife died after a serious illness.

- I am happy, - he said to his wife. - I knew that the girl would act like this, she would behave like this. That he shows us love every day. She knows that now we are nothing but her parents. We are also her children, O woman. We want more care and service. Every year and more.

Thus ended the conversation of that day. To continue with details and plans. They didn't say it, but individually each one wanted and begged to run away first. The goal after his flight pictured Lejla in Berta's house. Laughter, among people on an armchair in the living room, watching telenovelas on TV, hugged by grandchildren. While Lejla pushed the scenario further. As if her Golja at Berta's house, after she had said goodbye to life on earth, browsed the photo albums, cried when she saw herself hugging him, but did not let her son-in-law fall into depression. He took advantage of her and they both went to the stadium. To watch football, for example Tirana-Korça.

The days went by with the routine of age. With shopping, cooking, walking, but also with travel and entertainment. From time to time and knocking health problems. But no risk. Simple, like the falling of a few drops of rain that did not bring showers. The phrase entered the conversations of the day; "preparation for girls". Lejla proposed one day.

-Now, dear Gole, you must learn to make the bed yourself. That when you go to Berta, you will not ask the girl, she has the burdens of her own house.

The man did not hesitate. He learned so well that years and years passed and he made the bed every morning. Next, they started the training for the mouth when eating meals. So that they don't mess with the spoons and clean the living clothes at home. Then Golja started learning how to use the washing machine. To relieve Berta. Or one morning there was a lecture; how the room had to be ventilated. Or further, how to clean shoes, how to whiten sneakers. How Lejla could use the smart TV by herself, without the help of Gole, because the telenovelas were rebroadcast in the morning. They were slowly resembling those movie actors. Who learn the roles, then shoot them, perform them ie.
In the morning, Buzagazi always hugged him. They forgot to talk, quarrel. They were no longer annoyed with each other because they knew they would not be immortal. Even the conversations started to be done in a low voice. If we spoke loudly, we would upset Berta, the son-in-law and the children, they justified themselves.
The two peaceful, wise and happy old men were waiting for the day when they would be separated from each other. But they didn't have that anxiety, that fear that everyone has after they reach their 70s. That at the end of the tunnel of life they did not imagine darkness. They had Berta there. She was waiting with a bunch of flowers like smiling flight attendants when the turbulence shakes and shakes the passengers. And this image every night came to his sleep like a baby. No snoring, no anxiety. The morning light showered them with their typical smile. Both of them walking together, shopping and reading movie subtitles. Until weather after weather, the outings became rare. They started taking walks inside the apartment. From the kitchen to the living room, to the balcony, to the bathroom, to the corridor... Age became so old that it felt like a cannon tied to the ankle. But calmness and happiness could be read on their faces. We have our daughter, she is waiting for us, over there...
One afternoon when the door opened, it was Berta with her husband, she had been carrying a key in her pocket for some time. He went in and out without ringing the bell. After the hug it was said:

-O ba, o ma, we sold our house.

- Come live with us, - said Golja hurriedly, loudly and happily.

- No, no. We bought another house near the lake.
Lejla was almost relieved. The goal turned yellow. Both of their dreams were shattered. Did Berta speak again? Now it seems that there is no one to deal with one of us who remains alive, they thought...

- And we bought the new house very big, - Berta continued and opened her arms as if to say that it was as big as the sky.

The elders were stubborn.

- You are now so old that really, my diamonds, you are two, but in fact you are one. You cannot serve yourself. So I changed my mind. Whoever is left alone of you will not stay with me, but you will both come to our new home. So we bought it. You will even come from today, from now.

Lejla and Golja put their hands to their ears and asked aloud:

-Huh?

The four laughed. And while they were packing some clothes, the others would be taken in the following days, Golja asked Berta:

- Did you get your husband's permission for us, girl?

- No worries, father. I solved it.

- How?

- I told him, if you are not ok with my parents coming with us, I will go live with my parents.

Two suitcases were waiting at the door. Four people approached there.

- The elevator took us all, - said Berta with a gas that extended to her entire appearance.

They all came out together. The elevator opened its mouth to take them to an altar that would be called "love for parents". On the screen, if it was a movie, the subtitles would appear at that moment and the music "Whoever has a girl, the world has" could easily be heard in the background./ CNA