Whenever the word "madman" was uttered, Adam's mind would instantly drift toward Sarah's father. It wasn't just Adam, I suspect; it was the entire town. Yet, Adam was the one who knew the depths of that madness best.
From the moment he finished his studies and resolved to ask for Sarah's hand, he was met with a chilling eccentricity. During that first visit, the father stared at him with an unsettling intensity and asked:
"You wish to marry Sarah?"
"Yes," Adam replied.
The father pressed again: "And what have you achieved in your life?"
Adam's face flushed a deep crimson. He faltered, caught off guard by a question he hadn't anticipated. He chose the truth: "I am a graduate of the Faculty of Commerce. As you know, sir, my parents passed away when I was young, and I live with my grandfather. I have a military exemption and am currently seeking a suitable job."
The father cut him off sharply: "And what sets you apart from any other man, that I should give you my daughter?"
With that, he ended the meeting with a cold rejection.
At the time, Adam believed the rejection was due to his lack of a career. However, he realized the reason was something entirely different when, after securing a job, he returned to propose again—only to be rejected a second time. The father's question remained the same: "What have you done with your life? How are you different from the rest?"
It was a question Adam could not satisfy, not even by his eighth attempt. The father showed no regard for Adam's love for Sarah, nor for his daughter's love for Adam. Finally, his patience snapped. This time, Adam erupted:
"I haven't done anything with my life! What is it you want from me now? I know you fought in the war, but is that reason enough to humiliate me?!"
He stepped closer, his voice trembling with defiance. "You want a hero for your daughter? Tell me, how do I become a hero? Should I go to war in Iraq just to make you happy?!"
Then, he glared at him, his eyes burning with a raw, unbridled fury: "I will marry Sarah—whether you like it or not."