Turgenev's Fathers and Sons Fathers and Sons is a story about differences and conflicts, differences in how people think, new vs. old and the conflict that having The story begins with Nikolai Kirsanov and his servant Piotr who are awaiting the arrival of Arkady, Nikolai's son, who has just graduated from collage and is returning home for a visit. Arkady arrives with a friend that he introduces as Bazarov, Nikolai is pleased to meet the friend of his son and all four begin to head back to Nikolai's farm that he calls Marino. Arkady and his father get into a separate coach than Bazarov. On the ride back the father and son begin to t