Midnight of the Shah. Ilham Rahimov

for your young body.

      Kerimi

      Thank you, I would love to have a cup.

      Jannetali leaves. Kerimi and colonel sit on a bench and watch how athletes waving big 20-25 kg “mils” that look like bludgeons.

      Ikrami

      Once I was young like them. Jannetali had his own Zorhana in Kazvin.

      Murshid shouts some verses and wrestlers repeats the words.

      Ikrami

      He was finding boys from the streets making strong and fearless wrestlers out of them. I owe all my power and skills to Jannetali. He taught me everything he knew, and I became one of his best athletes. I won in many local competitions and overcame dozens of really huge, strong wrestlers. I thought I could turn mountains upside down in those days. I was naive and didn’t understand how to survive in this merciless life. Jannetali’s lesson – big muscles alone will not help you, one must have something over here

      (pointing at his head).

      Kerimi

      I often visited Zorhana with my father when I was a kid. Colonel, can you tell me about your first meeting with Reza-shah.

      Ikrami

      I remember the day when two big men in Russian Cossack uniform came into our Zorhana. They had guns and shining daggers hanging from their waist. One of them was sartib (commander) Reza-khan – future shah of Iran, founder of Pahlavi dynasty.

      Kerimi

      It is a funny twist of fate that a son of a guard Cossack, trained by Russian officers, becomes the ruler of Iran.

      Ikrami

      He came up closer, and looking straight into my eyes he said to me – “Good wrestler”.

      Then he puts his whip to my chest and askes – “I need strong guys who I can trust. Would you like to join me?”

      Wrestlers take a break and drink water.

      Ikrami

      Jannetali was a smart man and he didn’t let me even think this over.

       “Yes agayi”, he’s answered for me, “Muhdadir will be your loyal servant.”

      Jannetali made this crucial decision that has changed all my life. I actually did become a loyal officer of Reza-shah. Orphan Muhtadir gets accepted into inner circle of the Great ruler of Persia. Everything about that gorgeous coronation ceremony and birth of the new dynasty of Persian shahs will always be in my mind. I couldn’t keep my tears back when British and Russians humiliated my master, depriving him of his throne, palace, dignity, motherland. He couldn’t live without Iran and died far away from his home and family. Man without his homeland is orphan too, and a country without powerful leader, who is able to protect his people, is like a kid without parents. Iran was that kid, and anyone could hurt him. I swore to serve Pahlavi till my last breath, and I was ready to execute anyone who had ill intentions towards him. Now the Shah is Mohamed Reza. He is not as strong as his father, but he is Pahlavi too. I am going to serve him as wholeheartedly as I served his late father. God bless his soul!

      Kerimi

      Why are you saying this to me, colonel?

      Ikrami

      Please pass my words to your Ambassador and leaders of your country.

      Kerimi

      Why?

      Ikrami

      There was communist party membership card in the pocket of that bastard Nasser Fakhraray.

      Kerimi

      Only a brainless idiot will bring his documents along when he was going to kill the Shah. Trust me, communists are not so stupid.

      Ikrami grimaces

      Kerimi

      Anyways, let me tell you my story, colonel. My father was well known rich Tabriz manufacturer. He had carpet factory, jewelry stores, lands and many houses. He was close to Kajar shah dynasty. When Reza-khan with his Cossack brigade dethroned Ahmed Shah Kajar, the hard times for Kerimi family have begun. Some friends of Reza-shah threatened my father that they will wipe out all males of Kerimi clan. My mother died then from cardiac arrest. Later my father was forced to flee his country. He took his 10 year old son and crossed Iran-USSR border. He had to leave everything else behind. Baku became our new home. We thought that all our misfortunes are over, but that was just a beginning. Years passed by, I’ve worked as a teacher in the University of Baku.

      Kerimi forces himself to control himself. He is nervous.

      Kerimi

      One day, when I returned home I saw three guys as big as them

       (pointing at wrestlers)

      dressed in the uniform of soviet intelligent service waiting for me.

      Kerimi ceases for a while

      Kerimi

      Their leader was in the rank of captain. They came to confiscate the little what we had, including my favorite carpet from my room that my father brought from Tabriz. Later I saw that carpet in the museum of Azerbaijan History in Baku. It was like watching your heart being ripped out of your chest. Nice feeling, colonel, huh? Reza-shah stole my father’s reason to live, his homeland, his Iran. Communist deprived us of everything because my father refused to abandon Iranian citizenship. Tragic turn of life, don’t you think so? That night my father committed suicide. He killed himself trying to save my life. Then I became just another orphan, not the son of an enemy of the soviet people. I hoped that after the death of my father they would leave me alone, but I was wrong. Global politics have interfered into my life again. It is not a secret for you colonel. Your agents are aware of the details of my biography. My knowledge of Farsi and of the ancient history became very useful for communist leaders of Soviet Union. One other day I’ve met that captain once again on my path. I bet he could challenge anyone in this Zorhana. He was a coldblooded executor; less words more deeds, a bone crusher with no sense of merci. He gave me no choice.