A true man loves his wife and places his family as the most important thing in life. But is it the same for every man? Well, we say the real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress and grows brave by reflection and always finds excuses for others but never excuses himself. But is this all the same thoughts and attitude of every man out there in the world? Of course, YES. Every man is capable of doing so if he has the thoughts like this in him.

But things were different for Mr. Thomas. Being a great businessman with wealth, money, luxury, and EGO. He thought of himself as the Great King Midas who would turn anything into luxury just by touching it. Aside his EGO, he had a sweet small family with a beautiful wife and one god-gifted daughter. Mr. Thomas maybe the most egoistic person for everyone, but for his daughter he was a kind hearted Santa Claus. He never let her daughter feel the deficiency of anything, always carried her orders above his head, well you can say she was the most sweet spoiled child of her father.

As the saying goes, EGO and LIES never last longer, Mr. Thomas faced a huge bankruptcy in the following year after his wife died of cancer. Devastated Mr. Thomas went into depression and started taking drugs and alcohol to suppress the pain of the forever scars in his heart. He started to live his life like a thug. His life turned upside down just because of his own carelessness and proud. He would go out for drinking in the morning and come home late or not even return home and sleep on the footpath outside the closed shops. He became a MAN that no one would ever like to see to. His daughter Julie, although aware of her father’s miseries was helpless.

Understanding the family’s situation, she left her studies in mid and started working part-time job in a CAFÉ. Despite less salary, she tried to uplift the standards at least to a better stage to start their healthy lifestyle again. She worked hard day and night and overtime to pay off her father’s debts.

It was a yellow September afternoon; everything was all gloomy and lonely. Julie walking to her home after her part time job. At home she saw her father rolling on the ground after drinking 7 cans of beer. He was shouting loudly on Julie for her coming this late to home. Oh, I forgot to say that the ever-so-loving father forgot his love and was only buried under the regrets of not saving his wife’s life and his false decisions due to his EGO. Julie made him stood up and sleep on the bed carefully. Due to heavy alcohol, Thomas was fast asleep. Julie was remembering of her previous days when her father was taking care of her, playing with her, tolerating her tantrums, but all of a sudden, now there goes the man all wasted, sleeping like a sympathiful person. A slight tear rushed down Julie cheeks as she caressed her father’s head only with a little hope in her heart that everything will be FINE. At night, Mr. Thomas woke up and came back to his senses. He went to his daughter’s room and saw her sleeping and snoring loudly. He whispered to himself, “She must be very tired; after all she works so hard every day to handle a failed man like me. She must be thinking of me as a bad father now.” Sighing heavily, he closed the door and went downstairs into his study room where he spent all his time alone reviving his thoughts and regretting every moment. He sat there with a beer can looking at the huge frame of their family picture. Unknowingly tears swept down his cheeks when he saw the smiling faces of his wife and daughter in the picture. He started talking with himself, “Darling, I am so sorry, I don’t even know how to show myself before you. I just recall every moment that I had spent with you and Julie. You see the happiness in the eyes, that broad smile, that moment, do you remember? How can I be so shameless and idiot person to have snatched it all from both of you? How the hell could I? If, only if I could take the time back, only if I had kept my ego aside and listened to you instead. Only if I….it’s all my fault, our daughter is also suffering because of me. I am the worst father in the World, I

couldn’t even let her complete her studies and pulled her into this misery. Oh God, please be kind to me once this time”. He laid down on the cold floor with his eyes still wet and his heart crying louder than his eyes, he went into slumber.

Days passed by, and Julie worked hard and paid off all the debts of her father gradually. Now she wanted to turn her father into a better person again, since no matter how much she tried to hate him, she couldn’t because her father has been the hero of her life and will be forever. Starting from that day, she hid all of the alcohol bottles, made her father drink green tea everyday along with healthy meals. Her father was so addicted to alcohol that there were times when he behaved like a mad man because of thirst, his body started to shiver when he did not get to drink a drop of wine for days. He was all numb. But Julie also promised herself no matter how much her father is suffering all these, she is doing this for his own good, for their own future.

After several months, several treatments, utmost care and grace of god, Mr.Thomas got better and began to begin a peaceful life.

Now, he and his daughter were running a little bakery in the 267 5th St. Oswego, New York. Mr.Thomas was so delighted to see his daughter being responsible now, he had tears in his eyes seeing his little babygirl all grown up and matured. Their life was settling down gradually and returning to normal. The father and daughter were taking care of each other and understanding each other’s situation. But did they know that happy moments end quickly?

It was a Saturday night. Dark clouds hovering over the vast sky, winds growling, trees rustling and rain drops pouring heavily. It was a stormy night. Julie was returning home from her shop. Mr.Thomas was already at home waiting for his daughter, so that they can have a peaceful dinner date after all struggles they have faced in their life. The streets were isolated, the street lights were flickering. Julie was driving in this stormy night when she got a call from her father. She was talking to him when the brakes of her car failed all of a sudden. She couldn’t control the car anymore and dashed it against the divider and the car fell 5ft down the alley. The call had already disconnected leaving the father on the other side perplexed. He was wondering why did his daughter hung up all of a sudden, but keeping aside all the negative thoughts he continued his wait. And there goes a lifeless Julie laid down on the wet ground with blood surrounding her body and her car burning into ashes.

Mr.Thomas was getting worried more as the time passed by. He has been trying to call Julie for 1hr now, but got no response. He was trying not to think about any negative things but to no vain. His mind was making negative pictures and making him more worried and panic. To divert his mind he turned on the TV. On the news he saw about a tragic road accident in which the victim was a girl, all the information shared on the news about the victim girl matched with Julie’s. Mr.Thomas lost his patience rushed to the hospital mentioned, in which the victim was admitted. After all the formalities he was allowed to enter the ICU unit. Upon entering his heart dropped at the dreadful sight. His little babygirl was lying on her death bed breathing her last breaths. He was stunt and unable to move from his place. Tears were running down his eyes like a cascade, his heart scrunching every second. He got reminded of the picture of his wife lying down on her death bed just like his daughter. He teared up more when he recalled his wife’s last words, “Thomas, I am glad that you realized your mistake and trying to make it up, but maybe it’s a bit late now. Don’t blame yourself more. Try to keep our girl happy as you always have. I can never hate you because you have a good heart. Mistakes are made by everyone, but realizing it and reacting upon yourself is most important part of life. Never worry, I am always with you and our daughter. I will be watching you both from up above the stars. I love y…” and she laid down with her body at rest and her soul with peace forever.

Mr.Thomas got startled upon reminiscing the situation. His daughter was lying lifeless with many wires attached to her body just like his wife. He was feeling helpless just like how he had felt years ago. But he promised himself that he would save his daughter at all cost. He rushed to the doctor to ask about his daughter’s conditions. The doctor replied that Julie had multiple injuries in her body. Most importantly her nerves had suffered severe injuries and bones had suffered severe fractures, due to which her heart rate was too low. He also said that she requires a heart transplant immediately as her heart may stop functioning after sometime, but the surgery's success cannot be guaranteed. Mr.Thomas begged the doctor to save his daughter anyhow but the doctor replied that they may require to find a heart donor as soon as possible. Upon hearing this Mr.Thomas couldn’t resist and declared that he will get his heart transplanted into his daughter’s. The doctor told Mr.Thomas to fulfill all the formalities and Mr.Thomas was then taken into the surgery room. Mr.Thomas took a deep breath and laid down on the bed. His eyes again teared up thinking about his daughter. He couldn’t meet her anymore. He closed his eyes and remembered all the moments he had spent with his family. A slight smile spreaded across his face remembering the silly acts of his daughter. He just prayed to God to give a good and better life to his daughter and take care of her for the rest of her life. The doctor started the surgery. The heart was transplanted successfully. Julie regained her consciousness after some days. After being fully recovered, she tried to contact her father and tell him about the accident.”He must a worried like hell, I must contact him immediately” Julie thought. She tried to call her father but he did not respond. She tried several times but he was not answering. Then a nurse entered into her ward with a discharge report along with a letter. She gave it to Julie. Julie opened the letter and started to read it.

Dear Juls,

I hope you are fully recovered now. I just wanted to tell you that this might be my last talk with you. You have always been the best daughter in the world. I don’t even know what good deeds I had done in the past life that I got such a daughter. You know, I forget all my pains, sufferings, tensions, everything just by seeing your cute smile. I hope you will forgive me for the pain that I have caused you for some time in the past. But don’t worry I am always with you, never feel lonely baby, and also our superhero cannot protect you always like before, but my blessings are always with you dear. I may not be the best father in the world but I am glad that God gifted me such a great daughter. Now I don’t have any regrets. Please baby take care of yourself. Just remember that your dad always loved you and will forever love you.

Julie cannot even react. She was numb. She was processing the words she just read. She was crying miserably. The tears were not stopping. She went to the reception to ask about her father’s whereabouts. The receptionist told her that his body has been buried in the XXX graveyard. Julie went to the graveyard with her father’s favourite flowers. She saw her father’s grave and sat beside it. She vented out all her feelings and emotions. “I promise you DAD, I will listen to you and be a better me everyday. I LOVE YOU always”. With this, clutching to her chest, Julie went away with tears.

After 7 years, visited the graveyard with the same flowers again. She sat by her father’s grave. “You know DAD, our bakery is an international brand now. Since childhood, I had always dreamt of becoming a business CEO just like you. I have achieved my dreams today DAD. And its all only because of you, because of your blessings and love. I miss you so much dad. But don’t worry, I am taking care of myself and I am all healthy, fit and fine.” Like this Julie talked for hours. “Dad, I promise I will never disappoint you. I will always be the best daughter of yours. Bye Dad, I will visit you again.” Julie walked away with her father’s love and with a new confidence in herself to begin a new life ahead.

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