Александр Сальва
Of modern and true love // О современной и настоящей любви
Alexander Salva was born in 1981 in Yakutsk in the family of an engineer and an economist.
He graduated from the Faculty of Economics of P. G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University and the Faculty of Law of the Higher School of Economics, Moscow. He defended his thesis on economics at National Research University of Electronic Technology (MIET). He has been working in various branches. At present the author is engaged into business, married, has two daughters. Likes poetry, music and swimming.
The novel «Of modern and true love» is his first printed publication.
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Александр Сальва родился в 1981 году в г. Якутске в семье инженера и экономиста. Закончил экономический факультет ЯрГУ им. П. Г. Демидова и факультет права ГУ ВШЭ г. Москвы. Защитил диссертацию по экономике в МИЭТ. Работал в различных областях.
В настоящее время занимается бизнесом, женат, воспитывает двух дочерей. Увлекается поэзией, музыкой и плаванием. Роман «О современной и настоящей любви» является его первым печатным изданием.
Novel in verse
Of modern and true love
While we were studying our classes,
Inspired by the books of love,
And clearly seeing all life’s dullness,
While having left our years behind.
And then without any notice
Among the daily fuss and stir
This event suddenly arose,
Of which you further will be told.
Please meet my heroes: they are splendid,
So beautiful in their youth,
They still don't know even a bit,
That it’s of them we tell the truth.
I probably will start with the heroine:
No, not in Moscow she was born,
In countryside where she was living,
Her early days had slowly gone.
In dullness. Though her parents loved her,
Praised every moment, all her steps
And they were saving for a dowry,
For worthy life, as good as that.
Days passing by, she became bored
Among her family and friends,
And then she urgently resolved
To flee from all these cloudy days.
So, for her soul edification
And with the previous life at parting,
Ahead, in hope and expectation
She rushed off to the non-native town.
Where skyscrapers’rereflected in the puddles,
Where are mercantile selfish creeps,
Where girls are looking for a husband,
Without any love to feel.
Forgive me, oh, mysterious reader,
Forgot the most important thing,
It’s time to show her appearance,
Describe our lovely heroine.
She was a beauty, that’s for sure
And there’s no need in any words,
So tall, with hair to midshoulder,
So brave, with tongue just like a sword.
She did not like the others’ twitting
And treasured kindness in the folk
And name that destiny had given
To her, had clear meaning «Hope».
It seemed to Nadya there were plenty
Troubles to find a chosen one
But this impression was deceptive
(I’ll tell you how it had begun)
While in the capital, so heartless,
Because of job that couldn’t be found,
She, like a bird, so free and lovely
Was mixed with local party crowd.
Where serenity is reigning
And parties are until the dawn
At places, where for time-wasting,
They want to meet someone unknown.
In clubs for whole days she was drifting,
And, tried to find the sense in this.
As if her conscience woke from sleeping,
Searched for acquaintance without risk,
And with some profit. This occurred:
These idle days came to an end
She found the support, to be sure,
Due to her close and faithful friends.
A job she suddenly was offered
At Moscow company, one of all
Where they hired tag, rag and bobtail
Where chance for luck is quite a small.
Nadezhda wasn’t upset: she started
Working so hard all her days long
And soon she saved for a new apartment,
She entered into a certain loan.
It seemed like nothing else was lacking
With such success that she had reached:
The things went smoothly, coherently,
All was perform without a hitch.
And then one day in the park, just where
She walked her way in the moonlight
Feeling so fine, so bright and dared,
Our hero chanced to catch her sight.
With a friend he went on, laughing,
Approaching closely Nadya’s dream
And suddenly, a little frightened,
He saw his fortune in the gleams.
And time stood still. The moment lasted,
His could not turn away his eyes,
From her. Time was so small for realizing
Things that occurred as surprise.
She smiled at him, her smile was dazzling.
And, seeing him near on the path,
Just once again she in amazement
Turned to him, and he merged with crowd.
This moment was when two hearts’ beating
Was heard in spite of vanity,
To fall in love was meant this meeting
To overcome the calamity.
Yes, that’s of course was love at first sight,
About which the songs are sung
And even if it’s so demanded,
This gift is not for everyone.
But let’s get back at our hero:
With all the courage that he had,
Having seen such a girl so near,
He slowly followed all her steps.
And having pulled right from his pocket
The banknote, he shouted out loud:
«Wait, girl, here money you’ve dropped.
That I occasionally have found».
And Nadia, seeing that’s a joke
And thinking she could join the play.
Said: «Well, here’s the money I have dropped,
But where and how – I can’t tell…“
Their hearts were beating so insane.
They looked into each other’s face.
And even a friend then went away
And left them standing at that place.
They summer park was looking brightly,
So let her soul in evening time
Rest with the soul of him in silence,
When lasts this dream with all its charm.
Street lanterns were so brightly twinkling
Leaves whispered something to the wind,
And bird was marvelously singing
And love inspired everything.
So, they went on, and trees were dancing,
And passers-by, casting down their eyes,
Were so surprised, extremely jealous
About the destiny’s surprise.
All this didn’t matter. They didn’t care:
About someone’s glimpse or other things,
And Nadya suddenly remembered
That hadn’t known the name of him.
“Since we are barely acquainted,
– She started talking openly, —
And you up to curry favor,
Please tell your name to me”
Without stringency our hero
So simply turned to her and told:
“My name is Dmitriy, or just Dima —
If you prefer this name to call.”
And they continued conversation,
About everything in life
This moment had some queer sensation,
In which they were entirely plunged.
New day was dawning, they felt sorrow,
The talk was ended, though it was time
For him to see her off, the night was over,
He couldn’t stand their first goodbye.
«I have one place for you to show,
All Moscow for this day belongs
To us, although this place isn’t known,
This secret seems to be so close…»
And then, without hesitation,
Without telling empty words,
Agreed this heavenly creation,
And went with him along the road.
They came to clean and tidy shore,
And here meet the new day’s dawn
The Moscow-river slightly murmured,
And lovers here were alone.
Oh, Heaven! This indeed was lovely —
To watch this action to begin
When in the sky the sun was rising:
Fight with the night it had to win.
Sky in purple-colored dressing,
And rays were spreading all around,
The sun was shining and caressing,
Touched everything that very night.
Our hero, gathered all his strength,
And having found the better minute
All doubts gone, just like a wicked fate,
He’s not afraid, no shame, no fear.
He came so closely to her
And gave his darling tender hugging
And with his voice, so mannish, gentle, low
He said her just three words: «I love you…»
No answer. And she held her breath,
Her soul was singing very loud:
Such guys aren’t easy to be met
The better life isn’t easy to be found.
She touched him with a pretty smile,
Just as before, and none of them pretended,
The fate indulged them for little while,
This minute when the first kiss happened.
They stood there just for little while,
With joy in their eyes, so lovely and so happy,
It was the time to say goodbye,
They weren’t asleep of what had happened
To them. Her home wasn’t near.
They finally approached it, and then
For the acquaintance to be clear,
He took her contacts, then he went.
And at parting at her doorway,
For decent manner to be kept,
Nadezhda said to her companion
The words he hardly could forget.
Nadezhda:
“I want to tell that all was splendid,
I thank our fortune for this chance,
Such a great evening we’ve been spending
Hope we’ll meet not only once.”
That’s how our heroes parted,
And Dmitriy, going silently away,
Thought that their relations started,
And life inevitably changed.
Again I left without attention
My story of the hero’s life,
All his background information
That our hero cannot hide.
He lived in Moscow, studied there
He got just all desired things,
In family so loving and caring
There’s no impossible for him
And since his early age was clear
His strong devotion to the science
The education he was given,
So that he wouldn’t miss his chance.
He was respectful to his parents
And once he reached his adult age,
He started business, very hefty
With friends of his, whom he engaged.
Creative services they offered,
They worked all day and all night long,
From nature sculpted their models
And then they used these works to earn.
They had the profitable orders,
The money were the thickest piles,
And when the place was overloaded,
They found a house in countryside.
So, while he had the certain talent,
And also money for him to burn,
He wished at last, as he was telling
To raise the family of his own.
His sporty image and his figure,
And jogging in break of dawn,
Weren’t bringing closer, as it figured
His cherished dream. He stayed alone.
So, meeting Nadia was a wonder
It woke all feeling now in him,
He didn’t see above or under
The dating that new day would bring.
All thoughts were captured by his Nadya,
Her smile that seemed for him so bright,
Like new and shining heavenly body,
Beam of the only source of light.
With such a thought his walk wasn’t hasting
And finally reached his home as well,
This day was great, it was not wasted,
And with this thought asleep he fell.
The daylight’s breaking through the curtains
The beams of new, just started day
But Dmitriy’s sleeping without notice
Of this, he still is far away.
But then he heard his mobile buzzing
It woke him up from all sweet dreams.
‘Well, who is calling here that nasty?’ —
He thought at first, and then it seemed,
It was his friend to whom last evening
He talked when strolling in the park.
And who arranged the sudden meeting,
And disappeared in the dark.
Friend:
‘Hi, buddy, was the evening merry?
Come on; just tell what you can’t hide.
Last evening, probably you married,
I went away. You had your time.’
Dmitriy:
‘What I can tell… Well, I can tell you nothing
Here is true and simple thing:
Who meets such girl is surely a lucky,
Of such a chance one can just dream.
Just understand, that she’s is the only,
She stands apart from those chicks,
With whom before, with time for burning,
Success for us was guaranteed’.
Friend:
‘My friend, you’re probably, in love,
This look I clearly remember,
These eyes, which glimpse is very shy,
And which will follow her forever’.
Dmitriy:
‘You know, illusion was unmeasured,
Was nice to me, and I enjoyed
Each moment of this greatest pleasure,
Distinguishing her from them all.
Well, all those minutes we were near,
I still want them now to return,
To look into her eyes, so dear,
The greatest thing I ever learnt’.
Friend:
‘It is unusual to hear,
I am glad for you in anyway,
The words of love are surely thrilling
But now what can be your plans?
Perhaps I can be of some help?
Though it is really unexpected,
The night is now to be arranged
In a romance that has just happened’.
Dmitriy:
‘Oh, thank you, brother, for compassion,
A friend’s shoulder is the greatest thing
But this will be my own action,
While my own heart is filled with heat.
All these thoughts – they are not foreign,
To me, I don’t want to be too quick,
It is rather needed to explore
What gift’s for her and where it can be picked?’
Friend:
‘My friend, there’s no need to worry,
You know I am keen on that:
What gifts girls now are preferring,
Which will be nice for them to get’.
Dmitriy:
‘Today I’ll see her, it is the high time
For you offer something, so come on,
This is the matter, where is nothing
Like trouble, help, it is your turn!’
Friend:
‘I can go to some pet market,
And take for you a high-bred puppy —
Your gift will bring a lot of smiles,
To make her face even more nice’.
Dmitriy:
‘I think, it’s quite a good invention,
While I get ready, and you’ll quit
And, having skill in your possession,
Just buy. I’ll come to terms with it’.
Friend:
‘All right, then a little bit later
A lovely puppy I will bring,
Just keep your mood and make it better:
Her love is close as now it seems’.
Hours going by, the minutes jumping,
Still Dmitriy thinks about,
Whether his present will be lucky
What is the next event to come.
And how to arrange the meeting,
And having pulled his mobile phone
He writes: ‘Meeting’s of great meaning!’
So keeping the amorous tone.
She is answering to him in time:
I’ll be glad now just as then
To meet with you again,
I’m at home, waiting. Bye’.
And now with the gift he’s dashing
Our winged fellow straight to her,
A puppy in his hands is nestling,
As a friend and devoted poser.
Nadezhda meets them, opens the door,
Seeing a lovely living toy,
She’s happy, she has got no more,
Words, only tears of joy.
Nadezhda:
‘I didn’t expect it, really, Dima,
We met one day before, I see,
That life became entirely different,
He’ll be devoted guard for me’.
Dmitriy:
‘And I suggest a celebration
In the restaurant today we’ll go.
Then visit is to river-boat station
We’ll see all Moscow parks and shores.
Nadezhda:
‘Of course, I am agreeing,
I will be ready in a while,
And if we come back in evening
For me it surely will be fine’.
On the water surface
Reflection of the stern is twinkling,
And in the race, the wave is splitted,
And joy, and consolation causes
The nature filled with better feelings.
Now they are waiting for their orders.
Which waiter brings right here – aboard,
The landscapes, grand and unexplored,
Like in a greenery, while they float.
Dmitriy:
“Nadezhda, see, what I know now
About you it really not too much
While in the park we met somehow,
Our fate exactly was as such.
What hopes and plans you cherished
In life before our meeting there,
And had your heart been captured?
What troubles were for you to care?”
Nadezhda:
“My life went silently and worthy:
Assiduous study, parents’ home,
Then it became just somewhat boring,
I found no place in it anymore
I went to Moscow for career
I found a job, plunged into it,
I had no time for love arranging here,
No time for friends, who finally quit.
And you? What can you tell me now?
Can you confess in love affairs, and which?
The question is the same for you: tell, how
Many girls you managed to bewitch?”
Dmitriy:
“My story is so much resembling
Yours, I duly studied, then I worked,
And truly, at those time went dating
Can’t tell you just what it was for.
When I met you, it went unreal.
How much time’s lost in emptiness,
To look into your eyes is little,
Is not enough for me, I guess.”
Nadezhda:
“You aren’t alike all those
To whom I chanced to talk before?
By this love’s trespass, I suppose,
I have been caught, don’t know what for.
Your openness is a caress for my soul,
And I confess to you the thought of mine:
I’ll follow you even when it’s cold
No matter where, and how and why.”
While they discussed each other’s story,
And gentle words of love they found,
The dinner for them was being serving,
From such a plenty their heads went round.
For all these things were his arrangement,
And this was for her surprise
So let it be champagne and candles,
Wine poured slowly in the glass.
Dmitriy:
“I drink a toast to the splendid evening,
Which is continued now, today,
And after all, had this meeting
I hope, just for the happiness’ sake.”
Nadezhda:
“This moment the was really long-awaited
And now I agree with you again
Let happiness of our be painted
With love, for years, not in vain!”
Onlookers go round, near and far
There’s so much envy in their eyes,
As if this couple were the stars
And each their movement was a surprise.
But no! This is rarely to happen,
When love in brought to us by fate,
It’s pity for the ones, for sure:
Who read this and… don’t understand.
Dmitriy:
“And now along the park we’re swimming,
The park where suddenly we’ve met
It’s like a mystery beginning:
One thought and it’s in front of me.”