Peyami Safa's novel Cumbadan Rumbaya features some of the most extraordinary characters in his works. It tells the story of Karagümrüklü Cemile, whose sole desire is to escape her dilapidated home and neighborhood and move into an apartment in Nişantaşı, where she hopes to find a wealthy husband.

Sim Sala Bim is about a funny chain of events experienced by İsmail Dümbüllü upon his arrival in Istanbul. He has a job at a theater company, but the manager fires him for slacking off at work. He sets out for Istanbul with plans to meet with his girlfriend Aysel and arrives in the city following a rather eventful journey. Accompanied by his friend Rasih, Dümbüllü goes in and out of jobs while tracking down his girlfriend in the big city. Just as everything seems to go against him, a genie in his dream gives him a magic wand which will prove to be highly useful.

İffet goes on a voyage with her father, who is a captain. She falls in love with a man named Bilal who works on the ship, and they become intimate. At the end of the voyage, Bilal is arrested for smuggling. Some time later, İffet learns that she is pregnant. Upon learning of this, her neighbor Melek tries to take advantage of İffet's situation.

The story is about a comedian who arrives in Istanbul from the United States to bring artists, and his adventures with casino stars.