The bride

The events take place on New Year's Eve.. in "Al-Aroos," a luxurious restaurant occupying the first floor of a building in downtown. The restaurant's board of directors gathers to present the annual account statement.. and on this particular night, everyone awaits the redistribution of shares according to what Haj Marzouk Ashm Allah desires. Complex characters with diverse personal histories intersecting in "Al-Aroos".. a whole world revolving inside, below where management and its conflicts are, and above where the chef, the dancer, and the workers' suffering are. "New Year's Eve, a small green car was crossing Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, and above its old tower at the far end of the square, the "Misr for Insurance" clock had passed twelve, and the agile second hand moved and spun, marking the start of the new year with its first second. The driver of the car, with a vacant face, distracted, confused, behind the glass, and the black steering wheel. The seat next to the woman is empty, and the square around her is empty, devoid of celebration, with dim light, around a black granite monument, in the center of the square, a statue of the majestic man, broad-chested, standing on his high pedestal, self-assured, with a serious, full face, and a thick, elegant mustache. In his hands, and with his arms extended down to his waist, he holds a long paper, half-open and half-rolled up, the man carrying a message, a document, something of that sort." Author: Hamdi Al-Jazardar Publisher: Al-Diwan Number of pages: 352