It was a typical Saturday morning. The kind where you don’t expect anything out of the ordinary. But that day, we decided to clean out our garage. Rats had begun nesting there, chewing through wires and even sneaking into our vehicle. It was long overdue. So Mum, my brother, a worker, and I got down to business, cleaning and helping each other. By lunchtime, we were sweaty and tired, but happy with the progress. After eating, I lay on my bed chatting with a friend when I suddenly heard a scream. It rang out loud and then abruptly stopped. I paused. Waited. Nothing followed. I went back to my call.

My cousin Noel was also home that day. A few minutes later, I heard Mum calling out for him, her voice laced with tension. I stepped out of my room and asked what happened. She looked at me and said, “I think a snake bit your brother.” My heart just dropped. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

Panic kicked in. I called Noel on his mobile, and he came running. We rushed to the garage. And there was my brother, just standing there. Calm. Quiet. Not an ounce of panic on his face. For a second, I wondered if something was wrong with him because who gets bitten by a snake and stays this cool? Without a fuss, my brother walked to the jeep, got in, and Noel drove him to the hospital. It’s just five minutes away from our house. Mum was trying to stay strong, but I could tell she was breaking. To make things worse, she said, “I think it was a rattlesnake.” That sent my already spiraling brain into overdrive. I had a thousand dark thoughts flooding in.

Meanwhile, the worker had managed to catch the snake. Thankfully, our neighbor happened to be there that day. He and the worker put the snake in a cover and rushed it to the hospital so the doctors could identify it and start treatment quickly.

At the hospital, they confirmed that the snake was non-venomous and anti-venom is not needed. My brother was admitted to the ICU for observation. Blood tests were done every hour. His vitals stayed steady. No symptoms. No issues. Later, when we visited him in the hospital, I asked, “Weren’t you scared?”
He said, “Nope.”

I turned to my mum and cousins and said, “He’s definitely faking it. No one’s that brave and he must have peed his pants.” But my cousin replied, “No, I don’t think so. His blood pressure was normal the entire time.” Once the chaos had passed and my brother was safely home, I shared the story with my dad’s elder brother. He paused and said, “That’s your father’s courage running in his veins.” And somehow, that felt true in every sense.

What I Took Away from That Day:

• Stay calm – Even if it’s a snake bite. My brother did just that. Cool as ever. I still think he’s a little crazy for being that calm… but maybe that’s his superpower.
• Grateful – Noel was home and he was the one who rushed my brother to the hospital. Steady, reliable, and always showing up when it matters most.
• Location matters – The hospital was only five minutes away and equipped to handle snakebites. Not everyone gets that kind of luck.
• People who stay – Our worker, who had plans to travel to his hometown that night, chose to stay back instead. Sometimes, kindness comes from places you least expect.
• Right people at the right time – Our neighbor, who doesn’t even live here full-time, just happened to be around that day. He was the one who carried the snake to the hospital for identification. His entire family stayed with us as quiet support. That presence meant more than words.
• Family beyond blood – Joby Chettan (Noel’s dad), dropped everything and came running the moment I called. He has been a pillar for us, especially during my my dad’s illness. Some people just carry love like that.
• Friends who get it – I had people I could call, cry to, and vent without explanation. That kind of understanding is rare, and I treasure it deeply.
• Finally that life can flip in a fraction of a second – But in the middle of chaos, it’s love, presence, and people that hold everything together. Gratitude is an understatement.