The Story of Nassrah, the Human Being in a Rough Time  

Once upon a time in a far away land people lived in a world called the market where everything was allowed for a price measured by the pound or the dollar, it doesn't matter because with the exchange rate you can balance, steal, oppress and exploit.
The poor people lived during this time just like walls. They went out to work from morning till night. They worked but didn't know what they worked on. The important thing was that each hour that passed increased their income by a pound in order for them to pay the rent, food, clothes and their children's lessons. This time involved strange stories about deceit, fraud, theft, bribery, corruption and many negative concepts that people forgot in the future. There were beautiful values of loyalty, honestly, sympathy and belief in a better life for all people. People changed their lives and developed themselves due to these values. They were able to build a beautiful world for security and love.
Our friend Abu-Fulan was on a short trip to the wild market world. He was amazed at the way people think and their stolen effort on part of a small number of people. Their efforts were stolen in broad day light under the pretext of laws and treaties. Most thieves of people's efforts came from governments, businessmen and influential people. Abu-Fulan was so angry that he walked around talking to people, asking them why they accepted silently all the injustice. There were no answers to his questions. He was even more amazed. Where did the good people go? Where is friendliness, sympathy, helping one another and justice? People laughed at him and wondered about this crazy man and the value in the market of all the things he was asking about. Abu-Fulan wandered amid the fields, wondering, amazed at the people. He met Nassrah and listened to her story. She told him her odd story.
She said: "Hamdy was my dream. I dreamt of him all the time, the best looking young man in the village. He was dark with straight blond hair. He always looked at me while I stood in front of the house. He laughed and ran. I wanted to hold his hands. When I met him accidentally at the bridge my heart danced with joy and I blushed. She tried to talk to me and I played hard to get. I married him after a long night. Your arms irrigate thirsty land and lights up the moon ahead of its time.
Days passed and five children were born one after the other. His mother made my life impossible. However, I put up with her for him. She always said that I cast a spell on him and that he can't stay away from me. She said he only went to the field and return home as if I was the most beautiful woman. She said if he could bring me the sky he would. "I love him, mom!" She replied, twisting her lips: "Love him. May God grant you both happiness." She was happy, nevertheless, because I served her sincerely. Life doesn't give us everything but kind-hearted men can never be replaced and hard-hearted men are worthless. Hamdy fell ill. "Help me, Nassra!" "What's wrong?" "I'm not well. I'm not well at all!" We took him to the clinic where the doctor diagnosed him with kidney failure. He needed dialysis every week. His health kept deteriorating. What a bitter life, Nassra! We sold the only 2 karats of land that we owned on his treatment. Who do I turn to? He was broken and felt sorry for himself and his children. "Don't be sad, Nassra. God will cure me soon and I will compensate you. Say Amen." But Hamdy died. My sadness was my eyeliner before my time. My heart dried up. Where would I get money to bring up my children? We sold all we had. I could only sell myself. I didn't have a job or a pension. I baked in other people's houses, cleaned, sold vegetables at my doorstep. What should I do, God? Should I sell my clothes or beg on the street? A woman who is widowed at a young age is helpless. Men always harass her. I had five open mouths to feed and five bodies to clothe. Where can I go, mom? Men as old as my father or those who had nothing offered to marry me. What would I do with them? I swore off men and resolved to live for my children. Sometimes I weaken and miss having a man in my life, particularly when I see other women taking care of their men. I missed a man's hugs and touch. I used to remember Hamdy, fall asleep and dream all night. I used to tell him: "Did you have to die young? Am I not a woman who needs to be loved like other women? May God bless your soul!" I kept my feelings to myself! The kids were growing with a bite from here and a piece of clothes from there. They got neither an education nor certificates. We didn't have the price for medicine when a child got sick. God never forgot me, though. My heart didn't open to any other man and I never let my hair loose except when it was legitimate. Honor is precious. One look at my children is worth the whole world. Listening to their laughter is worth a million men. Although it is a heavy burden and my shoulders got tired, I am as strong as a camel.
A kind man is never replaced. Nights pass full of patience waiting for a better day. God never forgets anyone and no one spends a night hungry. Some good people help me bring up my orphan children and I bake and sell vegetables while my years pass by. A kind man cannot be replaced. His hug suffices and replaces mother, father and siblings.
But need is hard and begging is harder. It humiliates one. A woman without a kind man is like a dried up sugar cane that has become bitter. I keep telling myself that the children will soon grow up and compensate my patience and hard work. Will the children compensate my lost years? Why are we fated to be deprived of life's pleasures that God created? I asked the sheikh and the mayor. They said to be patient and pray. Their looks shut me up. I waited every day and dreamt of Hamdy but where is he now? Abu-Fulan was overwhelmed by the times. He couldn't absorb the story. He didn't understand why people were unfair to themselves to that extent and why they worked and suffered all this time! What were the laws that rendered them like objects, not feeling their human needs! Which criminal issued and enforced these laws! Abu-Fulan wandered around the market that surrounded Nassra where everything was sold: water, air, food, medicine, etc. In the middle of the market he came across a young man who pretended to be crazy. The young man screamed at the people in the market: "It is her right to start a new life and not to deprive herself of life's pleasures. Caring for her children does not contradict with caring for herself and her needs as a human being. Nassra and the market people should know that the healthy community we all strive for would not object that Nassra continue to enjoy her life and be happy just because her husband had died. The healthy community would not be sad if she continued her life with another man who deserves and respects her and protects her and her children. You should change yourselves and wish that Nassra finds this man in order for her life to improve!"
Abu-Fulan congratulated himself because he heard singing behind the market, moments he lived in the future. Abu-Fulan knew that these singers are the prophets who foretold the happy future he lives in where people needs are fulfilled regardless of their certificates, gender, class or color.
Abu-Fulan learned that women worldwide had paid dearly to obtain their rights to life, love and security.
That's when Abu-Fulan woke up to find Seteita calling him names because he fell asleep during the day without bothering about what his family will eat that day. However, he joyfully replied: "Nassra who is deprived of love deserves to live!"