Алексей Мухин - Stories of one night

He ran out of the café, throwing some money for the cappuccino, and rushed to the accident site. It was very close, he had to run two blocks only. Pavel ran them without looking back, pushing people and running in front of cars. Soon he saw the accident site: a truck across the road, and what was left of Yarskaya’s car (BMW of the color of wet asphalt) – a pile of twisted iron now, and a crowd of people watching this horror. He ran closer. She was in the car. Her face, thick hair – everything was covered in blood. Pavel pushed through the crowd and tried to get to her. By the sounds she was making, he realized that she was still alive.

– Has anyone called an ambulance?! Has anyone called an ambulance?.. –

Pavel yelled with all his forces.

Everyone stood stone-still: a lean student in glasses, falling jeans and stupid blue sweater, a woman with four shopping bags in two hands, some bald hunk filming everything on his mobile phone, and a dozen of other passers-by.

– It’s Yarskaya! – Someone said in the crowd.

– So I film it because of Yarskaya, – the hunk explained calmly.

Pavel felt her pulse – she was still alive!

Remembering first aid techniques, as he recently got his driving license, Pavel gently pulled her out of the car, called an ambulance and the traffic police. According to the rules, she could not be taken away from the scene, but the same could be said about leaving her in this state on the roadway, especially knowing the “speed” of our ambulances. And he needed the first aid kit to help her. He took the liberty and moved her to a small café, which was across the road.

– That’s right, there, – the trucker, a heavyset man of short stature in a baseball cap and robe, supported him.

He stroked his mustache, took her over from Pavel’s hands and helped to carry her to the café.

– You bring her up, and I’ll wait here for the cops.

Pavel nodded and brought Elena in the café.

The waiter – the stronger one – intercepted Yarskaya and put her on the sofa.

Meanwhile, she slowly recovered, and now only moaned.

– Vasya, hang a sign “Closed” on the door. No big deal, they’ll drink elsewhere. We have something here!!! – The stronger one ordered to his slim colleague.

– Aye, understood! – An obedient boy rushed to perform the task.

– So, come on: cotton, alcohol, first aid kit, if any, – Pasha ordered.

– I’ll be back right now, – the waiter ran away.

While he was absent, Pasha took a damp cloth and wiped the blood from Lena’s forehead. Soon, the waiter returned with the first aid kit. Pasha treated the wound and gave her ammonia to smell.

Elena came to herself, sighing and moaning.

She opened her eyes.

– Oh, who are you? There’s a girl… and where am I?.. We have to go!..

She tried to get up.

– There is no need to go anywhere, – Pavel said calmly. – The girl’s all right.

How do you feel?

– What do you mean – no need?! – Elena started screaming and tried to get up again.

– Lie!

– I do not need to lie! – She rudely pushed his hand away. – We have to go and save the poor child! I go! Let me go immediately! – She attempted to get up again.

Pavel forcibly sat her down on the sofa.

– Hold her! She’s in shock! – Pavel called the waiter.

The latter grabbed Yarskaya. His grip was actually strong. She immediately stopped and stared at the waiter, her eyes bulging. Meanwhile, Pasha opened a bottle with pure alcohol and poured it into a cup.

– Drink! – He gave it to Elena.

She drank and leaned back on the sofa, calming down. Pasha and the waiter stood aside looking at her, as if bewitched. Then they looked at each other.

– Alcohol is the best anti-shock remedy! – Pavel commented.

– Ah, – the waiter answered, looking admiringly at Pavel.

– What’s your name? – Pavel asked.

– Pasha.

– Namesake! Nice to meet you!

– And are you Celentano? – The waiter did not let him finish.

– Yes, Adriano, – Pasha remarked ironically and then added, – Okay, I’m sorry. Pasha, we need a hearty meal. Bring us something instead of the alcohol.

– Got it, – the waiter nodded.

– I’ll pay, – Pavel called after him.

– Everything on the house! – The waiter said, leaving to fulfill the order.

Pavel approached Yarskaya and sat opposite. He looked around the café. The place was pleasant in all respects. Twilight, dim light in beautiful chandeliers, paintings on the walls – all this created a situation of solitariness. However, wooden tables and white tablecloths on them looked very standard and somehow not in the Moscow style, without the pathos inherent to local restaurants. But the interior was extremely well matched.

– Well, how are you? – He leaned over Elena.

– Quite well! Everything happened so quickly: a truck, that girl, her mother, I was so confused…

She gestured strongly. It was evident that she was off her head.

– And then I…

Pavel handed her a glass of water. Lena drank it greedily.

– Do you happen to have a mirror and a comb?

– You are a real woman, – Pavel said admiringly.

She did not answer. Pavel even thought that she was tired of compliments. He got her everything she asked. While Elena was making her toilet, Pavel was afraid to disturb her with a gaze, then sat and stared at her.

Soon the table was set and they sat down to have dinner.

– We have such an unusual acquaintance! – She said with a smile, and took a deep breath.

– It’s okay. You’ll be calmer in a bit.

– Why so? – She asked briskly.

– I finished driving courses recently. There I attended lectures on first aid during accidents.

– Um, they turned out handy, you see.

– Yes, – Pavel said. – Let’s have a drink.

– Well, as I understand it, for the meeting? – She supported him, raising her glass.

They clinked glasses.

– And I know you. You are Celentano.

– Well, yeah, – Pavel remarked ironically. – Adriano.

– Well, what’s up? You are a charming man… And I did not introduce myself. I am Elena.

– I know who you are, – Pavel said delicately.

– Well, you still need to introduce yourself, don’t you? How are you here, a savior?

– Well, I… you know… problems somehow piled up, I went out for a walk, and then you… in such a situation. I read online that you crashed to death.

– Oh! Well, that’s something new about me! I already “was” a lesbian, slept with all the men of the Russian cinema. I have not been a zoophile yet.

She perked up a bit.

– Do you suffer a lot from the “yellow” press?

– Well, you know… it’s passable. There is, however, one journalist. He is really a representative of the oldest profession…

– And who is that?

Pavel expected to hear “Alexander Pletnyov”, but she shrugged. There was a pause.

– Well, and you? Where were you going?

– I, – she caught her breath, – was going from an unloved man to a beloved one. Wanted to tell him that I love him very much and that he should decide whom to be with. I don’t really like the role of a mistress.

– Yes, it’s not really pleasant. It involves love, but… – Pavel joined her.

– That’s right, there is a “but”. And it’s all about it. Everything should be in place. Beloved people should be together. It’s okay, – she said sadly.

– You know, Lena, until you meet the reciprocity… I had women. Only when I allowed them to be loved, I immediately became the best and the most wonderful

one. But then I had to sleep with them without love, and it’s immoral. And the far-fetched pleasure…

– In my opinion, Pasha, we are very proper ones, – Elena concluded, listening to his words. Pavel laughed.

– Many people said something like that to me.

– And I have not come to the place of my destination, – she again passed on sad notes.

– Well, I can give you a lift, – Pavel suggested.

– We’ll sort it out, – Elena waved a hand.

She called the waiter and asked:

– Pasha, do you have the Internet?

– Will do.

Soon he appeared with a laptop. They got on the Internet. The whole network flashed with the news that Elena Yarskaya crashed in a car accident: “A famous actress is dead! A terrible accident took place on the Abakumova Avenue”.

– Yeah, – she pushed away the laptop and thoughtfully bit her finger.

– I can call… tell them that you are alive, – Pavel suggested.

– No!!! Dead, then dead!!! – She replied sharply and even rude.

– Um, – Pavel started from a sudden rise in her voice.

– I’m sorry, – she apologized.

Pavel nodded.

She leaned back on the sofa again and stared thoughtfully out the window.

– Eat something, – Pasha suggested some time later.

– Yeah, let’s eat. We should ask the waiters not to rat me out. Let’s say that you have taken me to the hospital yourself.

She was silent for a long time and then suddenly said:

– Pasha, I have desires that I have wanted to fulfill for a long time. And now there is a unique situation – everyone thinks that I’m dead. Will you help me?

– With pleasure, – he disappeared in his own smile.

Not far from the café there was a parking lot. Pavel always left there his car – a brand new Volvo which he was able to buy immediately after the courses. They drove out of the parking lot and headed towards the ring road. A long road went right all the time. Cars were becoming scarce. Basically, at this time of the day people were going in the opposite direction – to the city.

They passed the last neighborhood and were outside the city.

– I said good-bye to him in a bad way. It’s about my husband, – Elena began her story. – I can tell you this, – she involuntarily smiled and became thoughtful. –

We met long ago, during my first shoot. He is my first director.

Pavel looked at her and then back at the road.

– The first film role. I was in the wild delight. The first director – and crazy about me! I was happy! Then, receiving the first flowers, I realized that he was in love with me. Then – more. He’s older than me and always seemed so experienced.

And I am so naive, I always thought that everything would be endured and there would be love, I consoled myself with the thoughts that one loves, and the second one

allows to be loved. But then I wanted to love. I don’t know when I would have time for everything. Anyway, time is needed for relations, and with my employment…

Sergey became very jealous. Thank God, at least he did not raise a hand to me. Pasha, I just wanted to call on him and thank him. I have not told it to him for such a long time. And now, when I’m dead, – she giggled.

– Don’t tell me such things! What’s up?! – Pavel was indignant.

– Well, I’m sorry.

– I… – Pavel started gesticulating. – Well, it’s nothing!

While she spoke, an elite settlement inhabited by new Russian movie, TV stars and other celebrities appeared on the horizon.

– Where shall I go? There? – Pavel asked.

– Yes, Pasha. The second house. Park there, on the left.

A beautiful three-story red brick building barely peeked from behind a tall fence. There was a massive gate with two cameras and two searchlights illuminating the road. Pavel came closer and stopped.

– I’ll go with you, it’s already late, – Pavel turned on the light in the cabin.