Chapter 15, Humble Wedding.

Hasan, his mother, and his little sister were preparing for his wedding. They had agreed with the bride on a simple wedding, mainly because Hasan was broke and couldn't afford a luxurious one, but also because the bride was a humble girl who preferred simple weddings.

Hasan invited all his friends, neighbors, and cousins. He had many cousins, and he relied on them whenever he needed something; they happily offered their help. Almost everyone in the neighborhood was a friend of Hasan, and they promised to come and celebrate with him.

Hasan took three days off from work. He had begged the director of the hospital for at least a week off, but after a heated debate, the director only gave him three days.

"IT'S MY WEEDING!" Hasan politely argued with the hospital's director.

He tried to clarify his point of view further by adding, "WHAT COULD POSSIBLE HAPPEN IN MY LIFETIME MORE URGENT THAN MY FREAKING WEEDING?"

The head of the hospital tried to reach a common ground and patiently listened to his perspective. He calmly responded, "GET OUT OF MY OFFICE OR I'LL FIRE YOU!"

Hasan came back home frustrated and disappointed that he wouldn't get a chance to have a honeymoon or even a little break from his stressful life, even on his wedding.

His mom heard him open the front door, so she asked from the kitchen, "Hasan, is that you?"

Hasan replied, "Yes, Mom, it's me."

Hasan's mother asked, "Can you please get me the invitation list? I need to hurry up and send out the invitations."

Hasan said, "No need, Mom. I already invited everyone."

Hasan's mother asked, "Oh, did you invite all the neighbors?"

Hasan responded, "Yes, I invited the whole neighborhood, all our cousins and relatives, all your old friends, and even your mother's stepsister's daughter."

Hasan's mother

"That's good, what about your friends and coworkers?"

Hasan: "I invited all my friends, but I'm not inviting anyone from work except for Jude. They're all toxic. I don't want anything or anyone at my wedding that might spoil my mood, especially not that cruel, selfish, ugly, hateful director. Can you imagine? He kicked me out of his office because I asked him for a week off. Most people in the world get a whole month for their honeymoon. I know that we live in a country where taking a break from work is unheard of, but I thought that at least my wedding could be an exception. So, I innocently asked him for a week, and what did he say? He told me that he could only give me three days as a wedding gift, and that taking a whole week off could only happen if there's something urgent."

Hasan's mother: "I told you not to bother asking him. I'm almost 55, and I've never heard of such a thing as a honeymoon. It's such a foreign concept. Your father went to his work eight hours after our wedding. He didn't even think of asking for a break."

Hasan: "Come on, Mom, not you too! You're my mother; you have to take my side!"

Hasan's mother: "I am on your side. I'm planning your wedding. I was just trying to save you the disappointment, but you didn't listen to me."

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Mariam, Hasan's fiancée, called him and told him that she needed him to take her shopping for furniture for their bedroom.

They had decided that they would be living with his mother, but they would take half of the house and buy a new bedroom, while his mother and sister occupied the other half. They would share the kitchen, balcony, and living room with his mother and sister. He wanted to rent a car to take her shopping, but he needed to save money.

Mariam: "What took you so long?"

Hasan: "Sorry, I took the bus. I wanted to rent a car, but... I thought it would be better to save money for the dress, so you could have more options and choose whatever you want."

Mariam: "Oh, Hasan, you silly! I told you before that I want a simple wedding, and I really don't mind. I always take the bus. You shouldn't worry about that either."

Hasan: "I know that you don't care about materialistic things, but I still want to do everything I can to make you happy. I don't want you to think that I'm not trying."

Mariam: "I know how hard you work, and I'm proud of you. So, don't stress about money. It's going to work out. Let's just enjoy the moment. Let's enjoy what we have now."

Mariam and Hasan entered many shops. Most of the bedrooms they looked at were expensive. Hasan kept telling Mariam that he would get her whatever she wanted, but Mariam insisted they look for something within budget. While they were looking for a furniture store that was famous for cheap and simple bedroom designs, they came across a wedding dress shop.

Hasan noticed that Mariam was looking at a certain dress. He told her that if she liked it, he would buy it for her, but she told him that she was going to repair her mother's wedding dress and wear it, and that it had always been her dream.

Hasan: "Are you sure about that? If you want that dress, I'll get it for you."

Mariam: "No, there's no need for a new dress. The quality of my mother's dress is far superior. You know these days they use the cheapest materials. Back then, the quality of the fabric was better, and it's well-kept. I'll just make a few adjustments and make it a bit modern, and it will look better than all of these dresses."

Hasan admired Mariam's personality, and he respected her opinions so much that he couldn't argue with her. On the other hand, he felt his ego as a man crushed since he couldn't provide anything special for his fiancée, and he felt like he really had nothing to offer her.

"Mom, I'm home," Hasan said, his voice heavy as he walked through the door. He tossed his keys onto the small table near the entrance, a gesture that lacked its usual energetic clatter.

His mother, hearing the unusual tone, came to the living room. "Hasan, what's wrong? You sound depressed."

He sank into the nearest armchair, running a hand through his hair. "It's... it's all ridiculous. This whole wedding. I feel like I'm throwing the most pathetic celebration anyone's ever seen."

"What are you talking about?" she asked, sitting beside him on the sofa, her brow furrowed with concern.

Hasan: "I went shopping for bedroom furniture today, with Mariam. And it just hit me... we can't even afford an apartment. We're going to live here, splitting the house. We're not having a hotel wedding, not even a decent hall. And the worst part? She's wearing her mother's wedding dress. Her mother's! Because she knows I can't afford a new one. I've never felt this pathetic in my entire life."

His mother reached out and took his hand. "Hasan, I've never heard you speak like this. You've always been the most cheerful, optimistic boy. What happened?"

"I don't know, Mom. I just... I can't see the bright side this time. I feel like I'm failing her. Like I'm not giving her anything she deserves."

"Hasan, Mariam understands you," his mother said firmly. "She chose you. She's happy to be marrying you. She wouldn't be wearing her mother's dress if she didn't want to. She finds joy in it. She wants a simple wedding, because it reflects who she is."

"But I want to give her more," he said, his voice strained. "I want to give her everything."

"And you will, in time. But right now, you're giving her the most important thing: your love, your commitment. That's worth more than any fancy dress or hotel. Don't let these material things cloud your judgement. You're a good man, Hasan, and Mariam knows that. Focus on the love, on the happiness you're building together. That's what matters."

Hasan, after his heartfelt conversation with his mother, felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He was still a little down, but the negativity had subsided. He decided to get some sleep, hoping to wake up with a clearer head.

Just as he was drifting off, his phone buzzed. It was a text from Mariam. He opened it, and his heart skipped a beat. It was a picture of her wearing her mother's wedding dress, now altered to fit her perfectly. The adjustments she had made had transformed it, giving it a modern and elegant look while retaining its vintage charm.

Below the picture, she had written, "It might not be the most expensive dress, but it's the most precious dress for me."

A genuine smile spread across Hasan's face. He could see the joy radiating from her, and it warmed him from the inside out. He quickly typed a response.

"You look absolutely gorgeous, Mariam. It's perfect. More than perfect."

He pressed send, his heart feeling lighter than it had all evening. He placed his phone on the nightstand, a sense of peace washing over him. He knew, deep down, that Mariam was right. The dress, like their love, was precious because of its meaning, not its price. With a contented sigh, Hasan closed his eyes and finally fell asleep.