Jacques was a renowned painter. He was creative and his paintings had a big demand in the market. But it didn't last long. It was his painting exhibition, but no one was buying them. They just saw and passed by. He didn't know the reason but soon the customer helped him.
He came with one of Jacques' paintings but didn't pay him. He asked the man what he was doing. Then the man gave him the painting and told him to bring something new because everyone was tired of his type of painting. But he was not getting anything new because he was losing his creativity.
But one day he received a letter from the Congo. It was from a girl named Ariana. She wrote that they didn't know each other, but once Jacques had changed her life. He was astonished reading this letter. But he found that letter weird and called his mom. He asked her if they had any relatives in the Congo and then told her about the letter. She told him that she maybe know who the girl was.
Jacques' mother told him a story when he was 7 years old. From his childhood he loved painting and so he had lots of colors and brushes. He took part in a charity event at that time. Everyone could send a gift to children who lived in poor countries. Along with other little boys, Jacques also donated. He donated his color pencils and his mom asked him if he was ready to donate. He replied that he loved drawings and he wanted someone to love them too.
Jacques immediately wrote to Ariana that he remembered her. He posted it and then soon received a reply. The girl wrote to him that she had lived with her parents in a wooden hut. They had no electricity and running water. And there was only enough money to buy food. They had to walk mile after mile to buy food.
She didn't have a single toy, but one day she received a box from him. She was so happy as there was everything to draw. And when she started drawing, it turned out that she had amazing talent. She could draw beautiful paintings and everyone there praised her.
Jacques was impressed, so he took his last bit of money and flew to the Congo to look at Ariana's art. When he reached there, Ariana and her family welcomed him. Then she showed him her paintings. He told her that the world needed to see her work. But Ariana said that she didn't have money even to leave her village. And then he proposed that he would show her art in the gallery and he would let her know if they got sold. Ariana became so happy and agreed with him.
Then he returned home with her arts. He made an exhibition and all the people praised him. They exclaimed that they were incredible and asked him where he had found the inspiration. Jacques was ashamed to admit that the drawings were not his. So, he told them that he was inspired by a trip to the Congo. Soon, all of Ariana's drawings were sold out, and he was able to repay his debts. He was finally back to his life.
And when Jacques returned to the Congo, he continued lying to Ariana. He told the poor girl that nobody bought her art. She cried because she thought their luck would be good at that time. Jacques consoled her and asked her to draw something new. And he returned home with the new paintings.
These new drawings sold out again, and he became famous throughout France. He was so greedy that he started to demand more and more from the girl. Once he visited congo and asked the girl to draw more. But Ariana's health unexpectedly deteriorated. And soon she was not able to do anymore. He asked her what happened to her. She replied that she was too weak and sick but she didn't have enough money for treatment.
Jacques knew that without new art, he would lose popularity and money. So, he decided to take Ariana to France and pay for her treatment. And when she recovered, he immediately decided to send her to Congo. He told her that her plane would leave the next morning. She was grateful to him for helping her.
But when he went to the store and was alone in the home, she accidentally found a magazine that published his interview. She realized that he passed off her art as his own. When he came, she became angry with him and said that he was a liar and she was leaving.
But the girl didn't know where to go in the unknown city and also it was raining. In the morning, Jacques found her unconscious. He took her to the hospital and the doctor told him that her body weakened after her illness. He also added that she could die after hypothermia.
At that moment, Jacques realized that he was the only one to blame for this. He gave a TV interview and told people the truth. He said that those works of art were not him. Ariana got better and after a few weeks, she came out of the hospital as a famous artist. Everyone condemned Jacques, and his career as an artist was over forever.
But Ariana was able to forgive him. She told him that he did a bad thing, but thanked him too because she could learn about her talent for him. Soon she moved to France and opened a personal gallery. Jacques helped her because they were friends. Ariana taught him an invaluable lesson:
The truth doesn't cost anything, but a lie could cost you everything.
I love these story so much because it has a lot to learn. Nice story.
One Jacques was kind enough to donate his drawing pen to someone else even when he loved painting. We should be ready to do kind to people regardless of the reward.
Although, I can see that Jacques was greedy and due to the pressure he did the wrong thing. Greediness can destroy a man regardless of his position.
I just hope Jacques learned his lesson and moved on to start another new life filled with nothing but truth and transparency. If we tell one lie, we will always look for another and thousands lie to cover up our lies but if we learn to say the truth at all times even at a time Jacques was in, although it was a trying time for him but it pays.