The sun glared down at me as I carried the heavy groceries bags to my car. My cousin was getting married that night, so I had planned to get the groceries in the morning in order to have enough time to pick up my suit from the dry cleaners later in the day and get ready in time.

My arms screamed in pain as I struggled to hold onto the bags, my veins clearly visible. I gently placed them in the back of the trunk and started the car. Twenty minutes later, I arrived home.

Along the way, I kept dreaming about the wedding that night. I’d be wearing a charcoal grey cashmere suit, meticulously designed from the fibres of a cashmere goat high up in the Altai Mountains of western Mongolia. My face beamed from ear to ear as I pictured myself walking into the hall, the sharp clicking of my patent leather Oxfords.

I could almost hear my cousin remarking, “You look statuesque, with your Oxfords beaming and cashmere swaying, making you as handsome as ever!”

Anyhow, as my cousin had spoilt me rotten by constantly lavishing me with gifts, I decided to buy a present for him on his special day. I pulled the car up outside the finest perfume store in town and stepped in.

Immediately, I was greeted with a refreshing fragrance, losing myself in a trance as I tried to focus on the rich smell. I scanned the numerous bottles of various sizes and colours, all neatly placed on perfectly carved and polished wooden shelves. I sprayed a few on myself, but still wasn’t fully convinced.

“Got any fruity or floral types?” I questioned.

“Try Creed Aventus. It contains a rich pineapple smell with a mix of birch and oakmoss, but mind you, it is strong. There’s also Chanel No 5, which has a soft floral smell, giving a powdery feel.

The Dior J’adore kept on that shelf has a mix of pear and jasmine. They have been shipped directly from Grasse. My man Aurélien is in charge of collecting the right types of flowers for these beauties and they are sure to provide a romantic vibe filled with sweetness and elegance,” the salesman gave me more information than I cared to know. I was relieved after the guy got over with his dramatic explanations and I made a sincere promise to myself that I would decide what to purchase on my own and never to consult the retailers.

After I put away the groceries at home, I admired the packaging in which the retailer had placed the perfume Chanel No5, and couldn’t help but smile.

Soon exhaustion had overcome me and I knew that nothing apart from an ice-cold shower would calm my nerves. As I turned on the shower, the water sent a shiver down my spine, leaving me quivering. It was the perfect jolt to reboot my exhausted body. Stepping out of the shower, I waddled like a penguin, rapidly changed as I had to rush to the dry cleaners to collect my suit.

Suddenly, my phone rang. I saw the name “Fareed” on the screen. I grabbed my suit and I stepped out of the shop I answered his call. He informed me that his mother had suddenly gotten ill and needed to be rushed to the hospital, and he needed someone to accompany him.

“All that time and money spent on the suit and perfume was going to go down the drain? I was eagerly waiting to attend the wedding. It’s so unfair!” I thought.

I was in a real bind and didn’t know what to do. Fareed had been of great help in the past and had assisted me many times. Moreover, this was not only about him, it was about his mother and if someone would sacrifice something dear to them to lend a hand to my mother in a critical moment, I’d be indebted to them for life.

“I’ll be there,” I assured him.

The relief on his face was unfathomable when I got to his house. Happiness broke through his eyes in tears and he embraced me in a way he never had before. A wave of contentment filled my heart and I was glad I chose to help someone who was extremely vulnerable, instead of pursuing something for my personal pleasure. I accelerated the car to the hospital, with Fareed supporting his mother as they sat on the backseat. After a few hours, when it was almost midnight, Fareed insisted that I should go home and rest.

The next day, when my cousin asked why I couldn’t make it to his wedding, the truth struggled to escape my lips, but I told him anyway.

“You truly have a heart of gold. I can’t imagine making such a sacrifice. What a role model you are to the entire family. People like you certainly make the world a better place,” he remarked.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 23rd, 2026