Setare

Setare—that was the name of the grandmother who had won our grandfather’s heart. From the moment Ismail first met her, he knew he would marry her. But Setare’s wealthy Turkish parents disapproved of the wedding. To them, Ismail was just a poor young man—kind, sincere, but not worthy of their daughter. Despite this, the young couple began meeting in secret.

One day, Ismail returned to the very place where he had first laid eyes on Setare. Ever since that day, her image had never left his thoughts. The sky was overcast, heavy clouds dimming the light, and his mood mirrored the weather—restless and uneasy. He dismounted his black horse, tied it to a tree, and pressed his face against the animal’s head, as if seeking strength. Then, with sudden resolve, he made a decision: he would kidnap Setare—if only she agreed. His loyal horse stamped its right hoof and snorted, almost as if in approval.

He approached Setare slowly. She had been waiting by the river for a long time. A light rain began to fall—some droplets clung to their faces, while others disappeared into the rushing mountain stream.

Taking her hand, Ismail whispered gently:

“Let’s leave this place right now... I can’t imagine my life without you. I want to spend it by your side. Come with me…”

Setare hesitated for a moment, but in truth, she had already made up her mind. Love had clouded her thoughts, leaving only a burning desire to be with him. Her parents’ stern disapproval had only pushed her further toward this moment. In her home, she had long felt like a stranger—surrounded not by love, but by commands and expectations.

This brave Turkish girl chose to follow her heart, silencing the voice of reason that urged caution. She reached out her hand to Ismail—a quiet but powerful gesture. With it, she let go of the cold luxury of her family’s home and stepped into an uncertain but heartfelt future.

Against the parents’ will, Setare climbed onto the horse and wrapped her arms tightly around Ismail. Together, they rode off into the unknown. They settled in his modest home and began building the life she had always dreamed of — simple, but filled with love.

These were the years leading up to the First World War, a time of great change. The Russian occupation of Tabriz lasted from April 30, 1909, to February 28, 1918, with a brief interruption from January 6 to 31, 1915. At the time, Tabriz was the second-largest city in Qajar Iran, capital of the Azerbaijan region, and the traditional residence of the Qajar crown prince.

Russian workers and engineers were building the first steam railway connecting Persian Tabriz to Russian Julfa. Cossacks patrolled the streets.