Small Story 636.

 Small Srory 636

 

Art Paid for the Knee Surgery

Janardhan returned home after his morning walk and purchasing vegetables from the nearby market. He and his wife, Anusuya, lived in a small house they had built years ago. After retiring from HMT, Janardhan had invested his retirement benefits in a bank. The monthly interest from those deposits helped the couple manage their household expenses comfortably. Since they owned their house, they did not have to worry about paying rent.

Apart from this income, Janardhan was a talented artist by passion. He regularly drew cartoons for magazines and earned a decent amount every month. Their only son was settled in Singapore with his wife. He visited India once every two years along with their daughter, Sowmya, a bright and intelligent young woman pursuing her final year MBA. Sowmya had a passion for writing stories and had won many accolades from various organizations for her literary contributions.

Because of their advanced age—Janardhan being 75 and Anusuya 72—they had never taken health insurance. The premiums were very high, and many age-related illnesses were either excluded or only partially covered.

For the past three years, Anusuya had been suffering from severe pain in both knees. The pain had become unbearable, and doctors advised knee replacement surgery for both legs. The total cost, including hospitalization and medical expenses, would be around ten lakh rupees.

Janardhan had carefully saved money over the years and managed to accumulate seven lakh rupees. However, he was still short of three lakh rupees. He did not want to break his bank deposits because the monthly interest was essential for running their household. This worry weighed heavily on his mind as he returned home that day.

Anusuya brought him a cup of tea and some biscuits. As he sat quietly, lost in thought, his phone rang. It was his close friend Krishna.

"Janardhan, I have wonderful news for you!" Krishna said excitedly. "An international journal is looking for a cartoon artist. I recommended your name, and they have awarded you a one-year contract. You will receive ₹3,50000.

For a moment, Janardhan could not believe what he had heard. Tears of joy filled his eyes. He folded his hands and silently thanked his favorite deity for answering his prayers.

Turning to Anusuya, he said, "God has been kind to us. I do not want to disturb our son. He is managing his family and supporting Sowmya's education in Singapore. With this new assignment, I can earn the remaining amount needed for your surgery."

After a brief calculation, he smiled and added, "In fact, after meeting the expenses, we may still save around ₹50,000. We can use that to visit Mantralaya and seek the blessings of our Gururaya."

Anusuya's eyes brightened with happiness. She nodded and said, "That is a good decision. Your art has come to my rescue. It is your passion that will help cure my knee pain."

Janardhan smiled. At that moment, he realized that true passion never goes waste. His love for art had not only given him joy throughout his life but had also become a blessing when his family needed it the most.

Moral: A sincere passion, pursued with dedication, often becomes a source of support during life's most difficult moments.

K.Ragavan

9-6-26