A simple story in the English language to help those who do not understand the language completely to read and learn along the way.
Jack was a simple man. He did not want much except a good meal, a decent wage, weekends off to enjoy fishing, and good health. The family was something he did not desire to have because he had seen many of his male cousins being burdened by the pressures of it and living a life full of sacrifices and adjustments. People had given up trying to convince Jack to marry.
Jack was a man of few words but it did not mean that he was an introvert. Jack loved to talk but he did not find someone according to his likes and type so often. He used to travel by metro but the usual faces he saw were either bent down looking at their mobiles instead of talking with others.
Jack met a lady on the metro one day and she seemed to be scared and emaciated. He was curious. He asked her name and she looked startled. He saw that she was shaken up. She was on the verge of tears. Jack quietly handed her a chocolate and she looked at him. He encouraged her to eat it. She did and a smile appeared. No words were spoken. She was a 'usual' now. Jack looked forward to meeting her every day. She still did not open up much. He had got to know her name though. Nancy. Nancy was a caregiver to an aged lady across the town. She lived with her extended family who did not think much of her. All the wages she got were mostly used up by her male cousins who made her not only cook meals but buy groceries and also pay for their drinks in the name of giving her shelter.
Jack understood that Nancy was being bullied by her cousins. He wanted to help her but she would not hear of it. He asked his cousins about what could be done. They hinted at marriage and he stopped asking. He told Nancy about it and she laughed nervously. He saw her looking at him and wondered if he should indeed consider marrying her even if it was just to rescue her from her evil family.
Nancy was in tears the next day. Jack was worried and he asked her what happened and she looked at him exasperatedly and asked - "What am I good at?" Jack put his arm around her and told her that she was good at being a great human being who did not know how to say NO. Nancy smiled slowly and he asked her if she would consider marrying him on an impulse and although she was taken aback, she smiled shyly and nodded. The rest of the passengers looked up from their mobile screens and clapped.
Jack and Nancy got married soon and Nancy bid goodbye to her relatives. They had not even bothered to come or gift anything to her. A while later, the lady who she had cared for left her a 'neat' fortune. She thanked her stars that her relatives were no longer there to have snatched it.
The above story may seem like a 'feel good' story but it has a message. Abuse - never bow down to it.
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