CHAPTER 1 – The House in Millî Müdafaa
In Ankara in the 1940s, when one entered Millî Müdafaa Avenue from beside the large pool in Güvenpark, there was a large, two-story house very close to the governor’s mansion. There were black iron railings on top of the stone wall separating its garden from the street. In the small garden at the back of the house there were several fruit trees, while at the front there were flowers carefully cultivated by Mrs. Emine.
This house belonged to Mr. Kemal, one of Ankara’s well-known shop owners. Mr. Kemal would leave home early in the mornings, go to his shop in Ulus, and most evenings return at the same time. His wife Mrs. Emine, meanwhile, took care of the household and their children’s education.
Mr. Kemal and Mrs. Emine had three children. Their eldest daughter was Zeynep, their middle daughter was Özlem, and their youngest daughter was Hatice. All three girls had received a good education. However, Özlem drew the attention of her family and those around her in a different way. She was an intelligent, calm and attentive young woman. She judged people by their actions rather than by the words they spoke. Before making a decision about something, she would think for a long time, and once she was sure of her decision, she would not easily back down.
Metin, who lived in the same circles, had also known Mr. Kemal’s family for a long time. He was the son of one of Ankara’s wealthy families. Thanks to the properties, shops and lands inherited from his father, he was wealthy enough to live without needing to work. Many people around him tried to get close to him because of his wealth.
Metin had been interested in Özlem for a long time. At gatherings where he saw her, he tried to approach her and find a reason to talk. He never missed visits to Mr. Kemal’s house, and sometimes sent Mrs. Emine flowers or small gifts. He thought these would catch Özlem’s attention.
Özlem had noticed Metin’s interest in her. However, she did not reciprocate his behavior in any way. She saw Metin only as a wealthy man who lived in the same circles and whose family knew hers. When she encountered him, she spoke politely, and once the conversation was over, she gave it no further thought.
Metin, however, thought Özlem’s distance was temporary. He believed that his wealth and his family’s standing in Ankara would change Özlem’s mind over time. He had understood that Özlem did not love him, but he had no intention of accepting it.
