CHAPTER 4

THE POWER OF LOVE

As the story goes, a young beautiful woman was just married a man she loved dearly. After
the marriage, this woman lived together with her mother-in-law. Then, there were so many mishaps
and unfitting behaviors and views between the two ladies in the house. The mother-in-law somehow
always managed to find flaws in almost everything that her daughter-in-law did. Sharps comments,
criticisms and all shorts of sarcasms were constantly flowing from the mother-in-law‘s mouth. Debate
almost took place everyday. Unfortunately, the husband could not do much to improve the situation

The daughter-in-law seemed unable to sustain her anger anymore. Day to day, taking
revenge was poisoning her mind and thoughts. And thus she went to look for his father’s best friend
who was a medicine seller. She told him all about her sadness and grieves in tears, “And that’s why
uncle you have to help me in this case, please prescribe a strong dose of poison so that I can have
my revenge towards my mother-in-law.”After a careful thingking, finally the uncle smiled wisely and
answered, “Iwill give you the poisonous powder under one condition that you will do exactly as I say.”
the woman agreed.

And then the uncle gave her a full pocket of powder. “ My dear, to get rid of your
mother-in-law, don’t use a quick reactive poison. People around you will be very suspicious of her
sudden dying. They will directly be able to point their fingers to you. Therefore, I am giving you a slow
reactive poison but sure. Mix a ittle bit of it every day and then into mom’s meals. And remember, you
have to cook the meal yourself.”said the medicine seller.

Before she left, the medicine seller added up,”just to make sure that people will not be
suspicious later on, you need to treat your mother-in-law better in days to come, by doing so people
will not raise any questions about her death. Treat your mother-in-law as if she were your own
mother.”

With such a happier light heart, the woman went home she obeyed and did whatever the
uncle said. Everyday, she spoilt her mother-in-law by cooking all her favorite dishes and served her
with all respect and compassion. Without realizing four months had passed, and a big change took
place. Being treated with such respect and affection, the mother-in-law was touched and changed her
behavior to wardsa her. Things turned around, she started to treat her daughter-in-law as her own
one and more each day. In the presence of her friends, she complimented

And spoke highlyof her daughter-in-law’s nobility and compassion.

Seeing the changes in her mother-in-law’s, abruptly the daughter rushed to see the uncle.”
Pleaseuncle, give me the antidote to the poison that you gave me sometime ago. After doing what
you told me, now my mother-in-law has treated me so well and full of love. I also start loving her. I
don’t want her die from the poison that I gave her every-day.”

The uncle just smiled and answered, “My dear, don’t worry. The powder that I gave to you
was not poison ayou let all. It actually was tonic to enhance body streght instead.”she was dumb
founded. “So the real poison actually is what dwells in your head, your attitudes towards your
mother-in-law. And

Now all of those poisons have been wiped away by love and affection that you have showered her.”
Questions:

1. What is the main idea of the text?

2. What can you learn from the text?
3. Can you retell the story?