Willpower

"I am 70 and I won't get a heart attack." Irene Joshua's father told her with a pretending smile.

Mr Joshua was retired but the loss of his son Agnel in a sudden accident 5 years ago shattered him to pieces. His elder son Immanuel was abroad and his youngest daughter Irene was a teacher at a small private school. He would always compare his children with his friend's children. Three of them hated that habit. Once Agnel had angrily roared:

"Dad we don't compare to a millionaire or rich dads of our friends. We respect you and fight back when people call you lame. My school life I was ridiculed because of your handicap leg. I was called the son of a lame man. "

Now supporting him Immanuel had added:

"Dad, I agree with my younger brother Agnel. You always say that money is everything but one day if any of us die in front of you, you will realise Money was not everything. It was your mental peace and sound sleep at night that is precious."

Father Joshua slapped both boys and they did not have any option rather than bear with the comparisons. They studied hard and got a job. They were ideal sons for Joshua but Immanuel was soon married and he went abroad. Agnel was engaged but a week before his Betrothal, he fell down from a running train in rush hours while commuting for work. He wanted to buy a car but their father was against it. Joshua blamed himself for his son's death and he grieved in silence. His wife Julian was bedridden and he was helpless in life. Immanuel did not take care of the family and now it was on Irene to run the home. She took tuition too till night and she could take care of household expenses and medicines of her parents. She had buried her desire to wear branded clothes like her colleagues. She still had dresses that were more than 15 years old. She had the same size and it could fit her. She had a wide collection of apparels and that made her look unique in her school career.

Joshua would come and pick her up if she got late from school. He was walking with his daughter towards home when he had sudden chest pain. He walked slowly to his home and after a few hours his pain was unbearable. He with his will power walked towards the hospital nearby. He was admitted and declared of having a heart attack. Irene perspired. She did not have enough money to pay the hospital bills. She did not have many friends. She called up an important member at the church but he did not respond. She called up Immanuel. He loved his father and he promised to send some money the next day. Joshua was rushed to the ICU. The doctors ordered an injection costing 40,000. Irene was asked to pay at the medical shop. She swiped her debit card and paid the money.

Next day her father was rushed to multi-specialty hospital. She did the paperwork and with paid the deposit using the money sent by her brother Immanuel. The doctors suggested Coronary Angiography but the hospital first demanded her money, deposit of 50,000 at least. She knew there was no one at home to care for her mother and requested her school colleague to be at the hospital for some time.

"The Angiography was important so she ran to a jeweler shop to sell her Gold ring. They said it was not hallmarked and gave her less amount. She took it and borrowed some money from her colleague. She had paid that bill too. She prayed hard that there shouldn't be any blockages but doctors said he had 90 % blocks. She was all alone in the hospital to take the decision. She asked doctors sometime and went to the bank to break her FD of 3 lakhs. It was her hard-earned money for her marriage."

Joshua was operated and well. His friends came home to visit him. They were praising Irine for her will power and bold decisions. Irene outrageously expressed:

"I have handled a difficult situation on my own. You all say I am a kid. I am 30 and my only mindset was to save my dad. I called each one of you but you all gave lame excuses like my lame dad. I am proud of my dad and I am not successful like your daughters and sons but I am a single independent woman." There was so much power in her words that Joshua's friends were feeling ashamed of their big talks and useless deeds.

Moral: Take wise decisions, don't depend on others and avoid toxic friends. Family is first priority so never insult your parents or kin.