Unexpected Happy News
The next day, Evan said, “Just go and attend your interview. We’ll decide the rest later.”
“No,” I replied while packing the kids’ tiffins, my face clearly showing my frustration.
“Why is Mom angry today?” Mary asked.
Nobody answered.
“Did she do badly in her interview again?” Mark inquired.
Still, no one replied.
“Today is Mom’s third interview, right?” Mary asked.
“Stop talking about interviews in this house!” I shouted.
The school bus started honking, and they ran off. Before leaving, Mary turned back and said, “Mom, smile. I’ll cook something delicious when I get back to cheer you up.”
I smiled as their school bus left.
“Not going to the office?” I asked Evan.
“I have a half-day leave today too,” he replied, having taken time off for my interview.
“So, I’m going to sleep now. If you change your mind, call me,” he said as he went to bed.
Checking my messages, I saw one from Aunt Japan: “All the best on your 17th day of your challenge.”
Suddenly, I felt a surge of determination. “Why give up? Let’s try!” I called Evan and said, “Let’s go for the interview.”
This time, I had the mindset of ‘let anything happen, I don’t care.’ I wasn’t nervous at all.
After a rushed 30 minutes, I arrived at the interview for the junior HR position. There were two interviewers: an older woman and a younger one.
They asked several questions, and I answered as politely as I could.
At the end, the younger woman asked, “When can you join?”
I looked at their faces, confused.
“Can you join immediately?” she asked again.
I nodded, unable to speak.
The older lady said, “You will have a base salary of 8k and be on training for three months.” She continued, but all I could hear was that I was selected for the position with a base salary of 8k.
I told them I could join within a week.
It was totally unexpected. I had the job! I was a junior HR now, with a base salary. I was thrilled and needed to join in six days.
I came out, and Evan was waiting. I pretended to look grumpy.
“It’s okay. We’ll eat something,” he said, starting the car.
“I want to eat something really good. I want to party today!” I exclaimed, jumping in my seat and hitting the car’s roof. Evan looked confused.
“I got the job!” I screamed.
Evan’s face brightened, and he joined me in laughter. We spent the rest of the day celebrating.
Even though I keep diving into the thorny patch and get hurt each time, I still say, “one more time.”
Each experience helps me grow and brings me closer to where I want to be, because that goal is just beyond the thorns.
Usually, we avoid getting back into difficult situations, thinking it will only make things worse. But by diving in and facing the challenges repeatedly, we can actually achieve our goals.
Unfortunately, I’m sad
At night, I waited for Aunt Japan’s message, but none came. Today was the happiest day of my life, and I felt I had half-won the challenge.
I figured she would message me the next morning.
I woke at 6 a.m. and checked my phone. No message. She usually messaged at 5:30 a.m. sharp. Maybe she knew she was losing the challenge and didn’t want to face failure.
Five more days passed. I was excited to start my job the next day but felt an unknown pain in my heart. I checked my phone again—still no message from Aunt Japan.
I decided to visit my neighbor, Aunt Japan’s niece, to find out why she had stopped sending those messages. I needed answers.
**
When I went to my neighbor’s house, no one answered the door at first. Just as I was about to leave, the door opened, and it was my neighbor, Shama. She looked incredibly tired, as if she had just woken up.
“Did I disturb your sleep?” I asked.
“I haven’t slept for two days straight. I just closed my eyes for a moment,” she said, rubbing her eyes.
“What happened? Is your health okay?” I asked, concerned.
“Come inside,” she invited me. “My health is fine, but Aunt Japan’s health is very bad. She’s in a coma now.” Her words hit me like a thunderbolt. It was completely unexpected.
“What… what happened?” I stammered.
“She had an accident, and her condition is very bad. She was on her way to the airport to return to Japan when her car hit a truck. The driver died on the spot,” Shama explained.
I felt a deep pain inside. I didn’t know why I was feeling this way. I had always disliked this aunt. She had humiliated me so much. Why should I feel sorry for her? Yet, my heart ached for her.
Shama’s phone rang. She answered it, and her face brightened with happiness—it seemed like good news.
“That was the hospital. Aunt opened her eyes!” she exclaimed, excited. “I have to head to the hospital now.”
“Can I join you?” I asked.
She told me to get ready in 10 minutes because we had to leave soon.
I called Evan and told him everything that had happened and that I was going to see her.
“So, your prayer finally paid off?” he asked.
“What do you mean?” I replied.
“You prayed for this, right?”
“No, why would I?” I said.
“So, are you happy or sad?”
“Unfortunately, I’m sad,” I said. “Anyway, bye.”
I used to hate her deeply, but when misfortune struck her, my hatred vanished, replaced by empathy or sympathy—I couldn’t tell which. Suddenly, I saw her in a new light and forgot all the wrongs she had done to me. I even found myself praying, “God, give her the strength to overcome her pain.”
No matter how much we might dislike someone, when something truly unfortunate happens to them, our empathy takes over. It makes us forget the past and see them in a new light, changing our feelings from dislike to understanding.
A Beautiful Mission
Japan Aunt could barely speak, but when her eyes met mine, everything seemed to pause. She struggled to form words, and as I leaned closer, she whispered, “challenge.”
“I won it! I’m assistant HR now. Tomorrow is my first day, and I can help thousands of people find jobs,” I proudly exclaimed, smiling with victory.
She smiled back, her pride outshining mine, as if she had won a bet. Turning to Shama, she said, “Distribute sweets to everyone in the hospital. Another victory for me.”
Confused, I looked at her. Shama stepped forward to explain, “My aunt helps women reclaim their careers. You’re her 1000th success story. She sees it as a win.”
Still puzzled, Japan Aunt clarified, “I use different strategies for each woman to help them regain their careers. For some, a little encouragement is all it takes—like the messages I sent you. For others, I provide numerous opportunities until they find one that fits. Today, I’m thrilled to celebrate my 1000th success.”
Who was the real winner here? Clearly, it was her. Her mission was beautiful. I gazed at her with pride, knowing I wouldn’t be standing here with a career identity if she was not there for me to push. I ran to her and hugged her tightly.
“Thank you,” I whispered tearfully.
“Live well, balance your career and life,” she said, patting my hand. I nodded, tears streaming down my cheeks.
Within three months, she recovered completely. I visited her daily, expressing my desire to join her mission. Initially hesitant, she eventually welcomed me as her partner. Over time, we became best friends, working together on the 1001st case, helping someone who is in doubt to make her career.
When I help someone, I feel a warm glow inside. When I support someone in achieving their goal, and they finally reach it, shouting, “Yes, I did it!” I scream even louder, “Yes, I did it!” It’s the greatest victory for both of us.
Every day, you help someone work towards their goal. When they achieve it, you celebrate even more than they do because their success feels like your own victory too.
The End.