Meeting by the Banks of Araks

Derenik Demirchian’s “Meeting by the Banks of Araks” is a short story set in early Soviet Armenia, portraying a May Day gathering of repatriated Armenian villagers and a visiting Red Army soldier. Though they do not share a common language, their shared humanity bridges the divide — through smiles, gestures, and a mutual faith in labor and peace. Against the backdrop of freshly built homes and the fertile Araks valley, Demirchian captures the essence of international brotherhood and the optimism of a new socialist dawn. A story of warmth, humor, and human connection beyond words.