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As the afternoon got on, Borjak Nurbadov begged for his host’s forgiveness and, gathering up the honoured guests accompanying him, returned to the city. After that, the toastmaster became even more complacent and finally felt himself the true master of ceremonies.
Mered Badaly smiled at this – a game played by vodka. Could Turkmen hold any celebration without vodka these days? Among people like the fishermen in this village, you’d be hard pressed to find a single person who could keep himself from wine and spirits. As people would say, “If your neighbour’s blind, start squinting!” and those present all observed this rule diligently: If the chiefs in the offices couldn’t pass a day without it, what remained for the poor youngsters to do except to take an example from their superiors? Af
