In a loving home...

(Baonghean)As I was climbing the stairs, I suddenly heard the sound of children's laughter. In a room with the door wide open, a baby lay on a low bed, its parents constantly tickling its belly, causing it to roll from side to side with delight. I was able to stand and admire that happy family for a long time because they couldn't... see me!

I stopped by the roadside to ask a motorbike taxi driver about the "headquarters" of the blind massage parlor run by Mai Van Quyet. The driver gave me clear directions and even told me that the young man already had a wife and a handsome son. From the joyful tone of the driver's voice, I knew that Quyet was well-liked by everyone. He has been living his life with a passionate heart and extraordinary willpower. The love story of this young blind couple also moved many to tears.

Quyết's family.

Born in the coastal town of Nghi Thuy (Cua Lo), Quyet was the only son in a family of four sisters. At birth, the light in his eyes was dim due to the lingering effects of Agent Orange exposure from his father, who had died on the battlefield. That last glimmer of light faded when Quyet turned 10. Silently grieving, Quyet's parents transformed their pain into strength and an even greater love for their son: “I know my parents love me very much. I want to repay their love, so I have to try my best not to make them sad anymore,” Quyet recalled.

In his early days at school, Quyết's unwavering efforts helped him achieve good academic results. After finishing third grade, when his eyesight deteriorated, Quyết had to transfer to the Nghe An School for the Disabled, and then returned home to continue his studies at Nghi Thuy Secondary School. Integrating into an environment with able-bodied peers forced Quyết to work much harder to keep up with the curriculum. Quyết recounted: “While my friends struggled with their studies, I faced even greater hardships. I couldn't give up. At that time, I only thought about achieving what normal people could.” That thought, along with the help and support of his friends and teachers, helped Quyết overcome those difficult years of studying.

In early 2007, at the age of 20, Mai Van Quyet, with the support of the Nghe An Provincial Association of the Blind, set off for Hanoi to learn a trade. Leaving the loving embrace of his parents for the first time, the young man understood even more deeply how immense their love was. Quyet considered this as his motivation to study and overcome the difficult times in a foreign land. Although he could no longer see, Quyet's hands seemed to possess a magical light, capable of accurately identifying the acupuncture points on the human body. A plan for the future began to take shape...

Returning to his hometown with valuable knowledge and experience, and overcoming initial difficulties, Quyết and a blind friend opened a massage parlor in Lê Lợi ward (Vinh City). At that time, the "blind massage profession" was still unfamiliar to people, so the beginning faced a huge challenge. There were times when he felt discouraged, even despairing. But the constant desire to be a useful member of society helped him persevere in his work and plans. With his dedication and ability, Quyết's establishment attracted more and more customers. Quyết couldn't hold back his tears when recalling the feeling of receiving the first money earned from his hard work.

In early 2011, Quyết started building his new massage parlor in Cửa Lò town with his savings and additional money borrowed from relatives and the local credit fund. He had to struggle against difficulties, constantly reminding himself to overcome everything, and gradually Quyết established his "brand." Now, Quyết owns a business with 6 employees, all friends from Thanh Chương, Tân Kỳ, Yên Thành, and other areas who share similar circumstances. Every day, "small business owner" Mai Văn Quyết welcomes over 30 customers seeking relaxation under the skillful hands of acupressure therapists. Quyết's massage parlor can now provide on-site service upon customer request…

Quyết and his wife sat with me in the second-floor lounge of a hotel on Bình Minh Street. This was the business location his family had recently rented. Besides the large guest room, Quyết's establishment also had several smaller rooms that served as a home for his family and staff. When I asked about their love story, Quyết just smiled and shifted the blame to his wife. Ms. Hoàng Thị Nhung is a friend who has been with him through the difficulties since he first arrived in Cửa Lò to start his business. This woman from Nghi Hương commune is also visually impaired. She recounted that about a month after Quyết started working in Cửa Lò, she came to ask him to work with her. At that time, not yet knowing proper massage techniques, she helped Quyết with shopping and cooking, even though her vision was blurry. Their time together as a blind couple was filled with Nhung cooking meals and washing clothes for Quyết; and Quyết meticulously and kindly teaching Nhung the massage techniques as she learned. Besides the loving care of his mother, the only woman always by his side, Nhung's warmth stirred the heart of the blind young man. In their free time, they would confide in each other about their joys and sorrows, and let their dreams take flight... Two souls yearning for life, who had never dared to dream of love or a family, gradually drew closer. They loved each other and longed for a happy home filled with the laughter of children. Deep within their hearts, they wished to have healthy children like everyone else.

Trouble arose when Quyết and Nhung asked their parents for permission to get married. Both families strongly opposed it, worried about their two blind children. What would their future hold? The more they pitied them, the more determined the parents were to prevent the marriage. Nhung shared emotionally, “We knew this beforehand, so we persevered in persuading our families; we were convinced that we truly loved each other and had overcome many difficulties together. Quyết needed his eyesight, but I could still see, albeit not clearly. I needed Quyết because his skills could provide for and secure our lives.” Firmly believing in their hearts, Quyết and Nhung grew even closer until their love finally convinced everyone. Their wedding was held on a day in early 2012. Their love blossomed when Nhung gave birth to a healthy, well-behaved baby boy, now over seven months old. Seeing the radiant smiles of the young couple together, along with their well-behaved son, anyone who has ever visited Mr. Quyet's family feels happy and secretly wishes for much good fortune to come to that little home.

Text and photos: Trong Hung