Being together for 30 years, and not husband and wife nor related by blood, the mute man and the amputee woman have been relying on each other, leading happy lives in their own way.

Local people call them a "fairy tale that exists in real life". The man is Nguyen Van Cam, 70, and the woman is Tran Thi Nga, 67, living in Tan Thanh ward in Tam Ky City in Quang Nam province.

Long-sealed fate

Both of them live in a small house near Trung Nu Vuong street in Tam Ky City and earn a living by collecting scrap. For 30 years, there were whispers and comments about them, but local people have given up misunderstanding and now love them and appreciate their affection and gratitude.

The man was born deaf and mute. He was severely injured by bombs during the war and was brought to Da Nang Hospital. He could not remember where he was born or his relatives, so he was admitted to the Tam Ky Social Camp. Since people did not know who he was, they gave him a name – Nguyen Van Cam. The name was written down in all documents related to him.

Nga was born in DaNang. After the country's reunification, she left her hometown for Tien Phuoc district in Quang Nam province, where she worked as a pontonier.

An accident occurred one day. When she was on the way to seek firewood to cook, she was hit by a mine left from the war. After a big explosion, she fainted. When she recovered, she found that she had lost her legs.

Accidentally, Nga was also brought to Tam Ky Social Camp. When meeting Cam, she felt a deep sympathy towards him and considered him her elder brother. They considered each other as soulmates and helped each other in daily activities.

In 1994, the social camp was dissolved. Nga bought a small house in Tam Ky with her savings. Not having the heart to leave Cam alone, she invited Cam to live with her.

“I felt sorry for him, because he had no relatives. I asked him to live together with me, so that we can take care of each other. I considered him my elder brother,” Nga said.

Seeing a man and woman living together, neighbors sneered at them and thought they had no moral sense.

However, ignoring all criticism, they have lived as they have wanted for the last 30 years. Every day, Cam serves as Nga’s feet, bringing her anywhere she wants, while Nga serves as an interpreter for him. They talk with each other with gestures and body language.

Collecting scrap is hard work, especially for a person without feet like Nga. She cannot move, while he is in poor health. However, thanks to diligence, they have been earning their living with this job for 30 years. When someone carries scrap to them, Cam puts scrap on a scale, while Nga calculates the amount of money she has to pay.

“He always works diligently. And we continue to work to feed ourselves. I am not a demanding person. I just wish that we have good health and continue leading our lives this way,” Nga said

They don’t go far and just stay at home or travel within their small city. Their longest trip was one to Tam Ky Churt on the weekend.

Having a smartphone, Nga often reads news when she has free time. If she finds something interesting, she will relate the stories to Cam.

“I can’t walk, while he cannot speak or hear. We rely on each other,” Nga said.

Since fragments of bombs during the war stayed in her body, Nga often gets sick when the weather conditions are bad. Cam then goes to the kitchen and prepares rice gruel for Nga. And when Cam falls sick, Nga takes care of him.

Nga said she considers Cam her elder brother. When facing difficulties, they encourage each other to continue to live.

Having been living together since their youth, both of them now have hair turning grey. However, they continue to work diligently and are optimistic about life.

Ha Nam