Chapter 3 Part 1. Chapter 3

Mom gladly met her son and, having stood in an embrace for half an hour on the threshold of the house, wiped away her tears, and began to chatter. She told him about what she had been looking forward to all this time and about how she baked his favorite pies and other goodies that he missed in his student life. Damir smiled warmly and nodded his head. «Mother in her repertoire,» he thought. She also mentioned the neighbor's daughter, who helped and supported her in everything. “She has already become such an adult, a bride, a good girl, a beauty,” her mother said about girl. Damir managed to listen to all this while taking off his outer clothes and taking off his shoes in the small hallway of their three-room house. He was touched by maternal attention and caution.

- Yes, thanks, mom, you shouldn't have bothered yourself like that, you already …» bending over almost twice, he again hugged his short mother, who began to kiss him on both cheeks and cry again.

She stroked his curly black hair and looked into his big dark eyes with great love and pride.

- How beautiful you have become, son …

Damir pursed his lips, didn't answer, just looked gratefully into his mother's bright eyes.

After supper, the vaunted neighbor girl came with her mother. He remembered and knew them from childhood. The guests came to greet guy and congratulate him on his speedy graduation from the university. After dinner, everyone sat at the table and drank tea. The conversation was about Moscow, about the difficulties and joys of student years, about successes and hopes. In general, about everything that concerned him. Damir understood what all this feast was for and what was expected of him, but he was in no hurry to make a decision. I preferred to quickly slip away from the «party».

- I'll go…, I'll go for a walk,» he said, returning from the restroom and quickly throwing on his jacket, turned to the front door.

- Can Aliyah come with you, son?» Mom suggested, with pleading eyes.

Damir stopped and looked around at everyone present. The women sat with hope in their eyes and looked at him, waiting for a decisive answer. He nodded in agreement. Well... the escape didn't work out.

He and his mother still had a very serious and difficult conversation ahead of them, so he decided not to spoil her mood or offend her. In fact, he had never intended to hurt or upset her. His mother was and would remain and dearest person in the world.

Well… Aliyah had helped his mother in everything while she was alone, had become almost a daughter to her. Surely she would have to stay with her always. Damir glanced in the direction of the modestly paced girl beside him. Almond-shaped eyes, gray like his mother's, round face, long blond hair braided into braids, modest attire, no makeup. A complete contrast to the Moscow divas he was used to seeing.

She smiled embarrassed, and her plump cheeks began to blush. Damir liked her reaction to his scrutinizing gaze. He too smiled his snow-white smile and winked at her.

The guy was in no hurry to ask her out, but he thought about it. He liked her. They was take a stroll around for about an hour or even an hour and a half, chatting and laughing. Then he walked her home and thanked for everything. Before leave her, he promised to call soon. The girl left with all her hopes and dreams. In the meantime, he go back to his house, preoccupied with other thoughts.

At breakfast that morning, his mother told him that she had taken a few days off to spend with her son. The news pleased him and he decided not to postpone the conversation any longer. Settling on the couch, he asked her to sit down next to him.

- Mom, why am I dark and not like you?» Damir asked straightforwardly, looking into the eyes of his smiling mother.

She was a little confused and her smile began to slip off her face. She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head at a loss, «You think so?

- Yes, I am different.» Damir said confidently, keeping his gaze on her.

- Well, maybe it's your father's genes…» she excused herself, not understanding what her son was getting at.

- I don't look like a Tartar, he was one too, wasn't he?

- We don't know who his parents were, they died early…

Damir looked at his mother with a half smile answering all assumptions without words.

- I don't understand, son,» the woman indignantly turned her whole body toward him, «what are you trying to say?! I had no one but my husband, and I know exactly who your father is.

- Mom, calm down, please! I never had the slightest idea that you were unfaithful!» Damir assured her and patted on the shoulder. But feeling the tension, he sighed, and after waiting for a pause, continued. « I love you boundlessly and will always love and appreciate you. You are my mother, and that will never change.

She clapped her eyes and her fear grew with every word he said. He exhaled again and turned away. His tongue just wouldn't turn any further! She, on the other hand, sat and waited for him to finish his speech. Just she was afraid of only one outcome, and that was to break up with him. And he understood everything, he didn't know how to properly present the difficult news. After hesitating a little, Damir gathered his strength and took her small hand in his big hands and squeezed it a little. With warmth in his voice, he tried to continue:

- I recently found out that…

- What?

- That… we were switched by accident.

- Who was switched?

- Me and hi.

- Hi who?» The woman went pale, and gulped for air with her mouth ajar. She was frightened by the thought that came into her head.

- Your real son. He lives in Canada, his name is Samad Saidi.