A woman from the central province of Kayseri asked her neighbor to hand back the gold coin she gave the neighbor's daughter seven years ago. The shocked neighbor shared her story and the letter the woman had written with daily Habertürk.

It appears the woman had given the gold coin believing that she would be receiving a similar gift when her son got married. However, as the note made clear, the son was now 38 years old and had no intention to get married. Having given up on her son, she had decided to at least collect the gold coin she had given over the years.

The neighbor, identified as Meryem Ç., invited her next-door neighbor and close friend, labelled M.K., to her daughter's wedding seven years ago. M.K. gave the daughter a quarter gold coin, worth around TL 260 or $68. Just recently, M.K. gave up on her son, and sent the letter to the neighbor through an acquaintance.

The letter said: "Meryem, I so wished this letter to be a wedding invitation for my son. It didn't happen. My son, despite being 38 years old, does not want to get married. No matter what I did, he refused. So, I would be grateful if you returned the quarter gold coin I gave to your daughter on her wedding day. Good wishes and health to your family."

At first the family thought it might be a joke, and called her. When she said she was very serious, the son purchased another coin and delivered it to the woman's house. The son, Murat Ç, said, "I know this family does not need the money. This means they didn't give a coin at my sister's wedding, but just lent it. I never thought I would witness such a thing. We gave the coin back."

The matter became national news, sparking a debate. Yesterday, it was the turn of the prodigal son who refused to get married. Speaking to Habertürk, Hayrullah K. said his mother's letter becoming national news was deeply shameful for the family.

"If I had wanted to, I would have gotten married hundreds of times. I am good looking and a university graduate. I received many marriage proposals from both around the country and abroad. However, I never found someone I mentally clicked with. All these news stories now give the impression that I am not a man."

Hayrullah added, "We haven't been in contact with this family for a while. They turned a request for the return of jewelry into national news. They demeaned us. We will take the matter to court."