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Im arakel

Births, Marriages, Deaths

       There   was   the   time   Hortanan   Marashlian   decided   to   spring   a   practical joke   on   Im   Arakel   (Anna   Baghsarian).   She   had   been   complaining   of   a   mild stomach   ache   and   he   promised   to   get   her   an   excellent   Greek   doctor   to check her.      The   scene   is   set   in   the   bedroom   of   Noubar   Baghsarian's   house.   Im Arakel is   in   bed   and   they   are   all   gathered   around   Im   Arakel   (her   sons,   daughters- in-law,   and   whoever   happened   to   be   in   the   neighborhood   at   the   time), waiting for the doctor.      "When is he going to come?" Im Arakel keeps asking.      "Soon," they tell her.        In   the   next   room,   behind   the   door,   Hortanan   is   busy   donning   a   white coat   (where   he   got   it   remains   a   mystery),   a   makeshift   stethoscope   and eyeglasses   that   actually   hinder   rather   than   help   his   sight   but   that   disguise his   features.   He's   found   a   schoolbag   and   is   filling   it   with   all   kinds   of bottles.        They   are   all   actually   waiting   for   it   to   get   real   dark   -   Hortanan   will   need the darkness to complete his disguise.        Once   he   is   satisfied   that   the   coast   is   clear,   he   comes   out   of   his   hiding place   and   knocks   on   the   bedroom   door,   calling   out   in   what   sounds   quite convincingly   like   Greek   Arabic:   "Fein   el   marid,   khabibi?   'Ashan   bishouf." (Where is the patient I can see?"        With   her   weak   eyesight,   Im Arakel   can   hardly   distinguish   the   apparition that bulldozes his way to her.        Hortanan   gets   into   his   act   with   a   kick.   A   lot   of   "ah"   and   "oh"s   and   "fein boujaa'" (where does it hurt?).      The   audience   has   mushroomed   and   is   spilling   over   into   the   yard   outside: and   everyone   is   having   a   very   hard   time   trying   to   keep   from   bursting   into laughter.        Hortanan   is   finished   now.   He   writes   out   a   "script"   and   hands   it   over   to Noubar   (who   can't   hold   it   any   longer)   and   then   dips   his   hand   into   his pocket.      He extracts a coin and opens Im Arakel's hand.      "Hadha mishanek, khabibi," (this is for you) he tells her.        "Yo,"   Im Arakel   cries   in   astonishment,   "this   doctor   not   only   carries   out   a wonderful examination, but also gives money to his patient!"      She never cottons onto it.

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This project has been supported by the Gulbenkian philanthropic Foundation, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and members of the worldwide Armenian community. Reproductions of the genealogical documents [domar’s] are courtesy Photo Garo, Jerusalem. © Copyright 2007 Arthur Hagopia
This project has been supported by the Gulbenkian philanthropic Foundation, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and members of the worldwide Armenian community. Reproductions of the genealogical documents [domar’s] are courtesy Photo Garo, Jerusalem. © Copyright 2007 Arthur Hagopian
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Im arakel

Births, Marriages, Deaths

       There   was   the   time   Hortanan   Marashlian   decided to    spring    a    practical    joke    on    Im    Arakel    (Anna Baghsarian).   She   had   been   complaining   of   a   mild stomach    ache    and    he    promised    to    get    her    an excellent Greek doctor to check her.         The    scene    is    set    in    the    bedroom    of    Noubar Baghsarian's   house.   Im   Arakel   is   in   bed   and   they   are all   gathered   around   Im   Arakel   (her   sons,   daughters- in-law,     and     whoever     happened     to     be     in     the neighborhood at the time), waiting for the doctor.        "When   is   he   going   to   come?"   Im   Arakel   keeps asking.      "Soon," they tell her.        In   the   next   room,   behind   the   door,   Hortanan   is busy   donning   a   white   coat   (where   he   got   it   remains a   mystery),   a   makeshift   stethoscope   and   eyeglasses that   actually   hinder   rather   than   help   his   sight   but that   disguise   his   features.   He's   found   a   schoolbag and is filling it with all kinds of bottles.        They   are   all   actually   waiting   for   it   to   get   real dark   -   Hortanan   will   need   the   darkness   to   complete his disguise.        Once   he   is   satisfied   that   the   coast   is   clear,   he comes   out   of   his   hiding   place   and   knocks   on   the bedroom    door,    calling    out    in    what    sounds    quite convincingly    like    Greek    Arabic:    "Fein    el    marid, khabibi?   'Ashan   bishouf."   (Where   is   the   patient   I   can see?"        With   her   weak   eyesight,   Im   Arakel   can   hardly distinguish   the   apparition   that   bulldozes   his   way   to her.        Hortanan   gets   into   his   act   with   a   kick.   A   lot   of "ah"    and    "oh"s    and    "fein    boujaa'"    (where    does    it hurt?).        The   audience   has   mushroomed   and   is   spilling over   into   the   yard   outside:   and   everyone   is   having   a very   hard   time   trying   to   keep   from   bursting   into laughter.        Hortanan   is   finished   now.   He   writes   out   a   "script" and   hands   it   over   to   Noubar   (who   can't   hold   it   any longer) and then dips his hand into his pocket.      He extracts a coin and opens Im Arakel's hand.        "Hadha   mishanek,   khabibi,"   (this   is   for   you)   he tells her.        "Yo,"   Im Arakel   cries   in   astonishment,   "this   doctor not   only   carries   out   a   wonderful   examination,   but also gives money to his patient!"      She never cottons onto it.