Bitter Lands Bitter Lands | Page 8

ZULEYHA (ALTUN) YAMAN (25) Zuleyha is a brave woman, with impeccable smarts and fascinating beauty, who accomplishes everything she sets her mind to. She grows up with her step brother Veli after the loss of both her parents at a very young age. She starts to work at a luxurious tailor shop in Nisantasi and earns her keep. She is aware of all the doors her beauty and intelligence will open for her but she doesn't care about being rich or powerful. She only wants to be happy with the man she loves, Yilmaz. Crazy in love, she is determined to spend the rest of her life with him. Veli is a gambler, thus broke. When Veli gives Zuleyha away to Naci in exchange for his gambling debt, Yilmaz kills Naci. Instead of mourning, Zuleyha stands tall in support of the man she loves, no matter what. It is Zuleyha who calls the shots; she is the one to suggest running away together. At the Yaman Ranch Hunkar is aware of Zuleyha 's intelligence and beauty, as well as her son Demir’s interest in her. Realizing that Zuleyha is pregnant, she breaks Yilmaz and Zuleyha up and forces her to marry Demir. Believing in Hunkar’s lie that she can rescue Yilmaz from execution, Zuleyha agrees to the marriage in order to save Yilmaz. Even though she is carrying Yilmaz's child, she acts like it's Demir who is the father. Zuleyha suffers the most when they take Yilmaz away from her. She finds a solution to everything except for living a life without Yilmaz.