Small Story 73 The Unexpected Wedding.

Small Story 73: The Unexpected Wedding Raghuram was getting ready for his official tour to Sydney. His wife, Malathy, was busy packing his clothes, passport, and ticket into his suitcase. Their daughter, Malini, a Senior Project Officer at a leading IT company, was preparing for her day at work. At 26 years old, Malini was not yet married, and she was known for her sweet demeanor and pleasant manners. Raghuram worked as a Senior Project Manager at a leading consulting company, where he provided advice on various projects. He was known for his modern thinking and helpful nature. His best friend, Ram, worked as a General Manager at a nationalized bank in Bengaluru. The two had been friends since childhood. Ram's wife, Ambujam, had only one son, Anirudh, who was an Civil engineer .Though Raghuram and Ramare friend, were close, their views on many things, including astrology, differed. Ram called to wish Raghuram a safe journey to Sydney. “What time is your flight?” Ram asked. “4:30 PM,” Raghuram replied. Ram was taken aback. He believed in astrology and had his own beliefs about timing, but Raghuram didn’t adhere to such concepts. He was pragmatic and never changed his plans based on superstition. Ram whispered to himself that even though they had differing views, their friendship remained strong. Raghuram’s flight was on a Sunday, and he arrived safely in Sydney. Ten days later, Raghuram returned home and invited Ram's family over for lunch on another Sunday. They were scheduled to arrive at 11 AM. Just before lunch, Raghuram’s phone rang. It was his friend Ramesh. “Are you on the way, Ramesh?” Raghuram asked. “Yes, I’ll be there in 10 minutes,” Ramesh replied. Ten minutes later, Ramesh arrived. Raghuram introduced him to Ram. "Ram meet my good friend Ramesh. We’ve been travel buddies for over ten years. Whenever I travel, he’s always there. I’m proud to call him my friend." Ramesh smiled modestly. “No, Mr.Ram , I’m just a humble person who loves my work. Raghu is the real leader in his field.” Raghuram added, “Ramesh is an award-winning editor and producer. He’s worked on films in multiple languages, and his simplicity and straightforwardness have earned him respect in the film industry.” Ramesh then explained, “I was a bit late because I was working on a film. We were shooting a scene where the bridegroom’s father says his daughter is two years elder to marry. But in the end, the hero convinces him. It was a heartfelt scene.” Ambujam was delighted by the story and, looking at Anirudh, said, “Raghuram, Anirudh is like a hero. Malini likes him—why not arrange their marriage?” Raghuram smiled and replied, “I have always considered Anirudh a fine young man. If Ram agrees, we can set a date.” Ram , who had initially been hesitant about the idea of a marriage between their children due to the age difference, was now rethinking his position. Ramesh's friendly suggestion and good intentions had made him reconsider his old beliefs. After a moment of thought, Ram finally agreed. “If Raghu is happy, I will support this marriage. We will fix a date.” Raghuram, knowing his good friend’s sincere intentions, agreed. “I’ve always admired your thinking, Ramesh.” With both families in agreement, Malini and Anirudh’s wedding was planned. It was a grand celebration, with the blessings of Ramesh’s family, and both families rejoiced in the union. K.Ragavan 10-11-24