At our family reunion, my brother-in-law Tom, a successful lawyer, belittled my husband David, a dedicated teacher. Days later, karma struck when Tom’s Ferrari broke down, leading to a humbling encounter on a crowded bus.

Every year, my family gathers at my parents’ house for a reunion. This year, Tom arrived late in a flashy red Ferrari, drawing everyone’s attention. As the family admired the car, Tom boasted about his wealth and success. During dinner, David shared a touching story about one of his students. Just as everyone was engaged, Tom interrupted, saying, “You’ll never own a car like mine on a teacher’s salary. You should have aimed higher.”

The atmosphere turned icy. Lisa, Tom’s wife, added, “Honestly, David, why did you settle for such a mediocre job? If you had ambition, you wouldn’t live such an ordinary life.”

David smiled, “I love what I do. Teaching gives me a sense of purpose that money can’t buy.” My parents exchanged worried glances, and I felt furious.

Tom continued to boast about his job, dismissing David’s accomplishments. I finally snapped, “David’s work is incredibly important!”

“Sure, but at what cost?” Tom replied, rolling his eyes.

After the reunion, I hoped karma would catch up with Tom. Just days later, David came home with a smile. “You won’t believe what happened to Tom,” he said. His Ferrari had broken down, and he’d forgotten his wallet at home.

Stranded, Tom had to take the bus, his designer suit out of place among the commuters. To his humiliation, he saw David seated near the back, reading a book. David waved him over. Tom squeezed through the crowded bus, clearly uncomfortable.

“Rough day?” David asked, barely hiding his amusement.

Tom admitted, “My car broke down.” David responded, “This is my daily commute. The bus isn’t so bad.”

The ride was bumpy, and at one point, Tom lost his grip and tumbled into an elderly woman’s lap. The bus eventually broke down, forcing him off into the rain. His boss called, furious about the missed meeting.

When Tom finally arrived at work, he was late and disheveled. His boss was unimpressed, demoting him and assigning him to a cramped cubicle.

At the next family gathering, Tom was unusually quiet, having parked his repaired Ferrari discreetly. During dinner, he surprised everyone by apologizing to David. “I was out of line at the last reunion. I’ve realized that success isn’t about material possessions. It’s about making a difference, something you do every day as a teacher.”

David smiled warmly. “Thank you, Tom. That means a lot.”