Hassan took a deep breath as he sat across from his father. He knew that what he was about to say would not be well received, but he had to be honest.
"Father, I need to talk to you about something important," Hassan began.
His father, a stern and traditional man, raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Hassan? Is it your brother again?"
"This is not about Malik.”
Hassan was clearly not comfortable to continue speaking. He almost stood and wanted to exit the room.
All of a sudden he blurted out. “I've met someone Father," Hassan said, his voice trembling slightly. "Her name is Sarah, and she's amazing. We're in love."
His father's face hardened. A moment of silence followed. It was as if Hassan was being judged.
"Sarah? And what kind of woman is this Sarah? What does she do? What is her family background?"
Hassan hesitated. He knew that his father's questions were a formality, and that his mind was already made up.
"She's a nurse," Hassan said. "And her family is from a different cultural background than ours."
His father's eyes narrowed. "And you think it's appropriate to be with someone from a different background than ours? What will people say? Don’t you know our values?"
The sudden increase in his father’s voice brought forth his mother and other members to take a interest in the discussion.
Hassan took a deep breath. "Father, I know that our family has certain traditions and beliefs, but I believe that love is more important than all of that. Sarah makes me happy, and I can't imagine my life without her."
His father scoffed. "Happiness? What is happiness, Hassan? A fleeting emotion that clouds your judgment and leads you astray? You need to think about your future, about your responsibilities to this family and this community. You cannot just throw all of that away for some woman you barely know."
Hassan felt his anger rising. "She's not just some woman, Father. She's the woman I love. And I won't apologize for that."
His father stood up, his face red with anger. "You are making a grave mistake, Hassan. You will regret this."
Hassan knew that his father was not going to accept his decision, but he couldn't back down. He stood up to face him, determination in his eyes.
"I won't regret it, Father. I love Sarah, and I will stand by her no matter what. I hope one day you can see that."
With that, Hassan turned and walked out of the room, leaving his father behind. He knew that this was just the beginning of a difficult journey, but he was determined to stand up for what he believed in, even if it meant going against tradition and his family's expectations.
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