Small Story 97 Good Encounter

Small Story 97: Good Encounter Shalini was walking through the train compartments one by one, looking for the D Coach. There were only a few coaches left to check before she reached her destination and occupied her seat. With the train set to depart in ten minutes, she pulled out her phone. As she read through the morning messages from her office, she saw the news alert from her Chief, Vasanthi, outlining which stories she needed to follow immediately. Shalini worked as a reporter for a leading US-based online magazine. Since childhood, she had been fascinated by reading and drawn to the bold, authentic reporting of journalists on TV. Inspired by them, she pursued her Master's degree in Communication and Journalism, graduating with the highest honors. Her hard work led her to land a position at a reputable company. Now, she was heading to Chennai to cover the latest cyclone and rains. After a four-hour train journey, Shalini arrived in Chennai feeling surprisingly fresh and not too tired. At the station, her colleague, Vishnu, greeted her. "Hi, how are you? The rain just stopped. Take it slow," he said. Shalini, with only a small handbag for her one-day stay, got off the train and followed Vishnu to his car. On the way to their office, she noticed the water stagnation in many areas, as the city was still reeling from the crisis. After spending two hours at the office, Shalini understood the situation on the ground. She was relieved that the cyclone had crossed, though the damage was evident. She snapped a few photos of the worst-hit areas and then headed to her old friend Radhika’s house in Anna Nagar. Radhika, who worked as a Sub Editor for a popular English newspaper, shared her experiences of the cyclone and the rains over dinner at a well-known restaurant. As they finished their meal, Shalini realized she had left her phone behind. Sitting in the car with Radhika, she suddenly remembered. "My phone!" she exclaimed. She rushed back to the restaurant to check. But when she looked, the phone was nowhere to be found. Worry set in — the photos and reports she had uploaded were critical for her office back in Bengaluru. Just then, Vishnu entered the restaurant. "Hey, you missed your phone," he said. "I was following you here to see if you were still around. I couldn’t find parking, so I arrived a little late. I noticed your phone and grabbed it. I was about to call your office in Bengaluru." Shalini took a deep breath, relieved that her work had been saved. Radhika, too, exhaled, glad that everything was okay. Shalini turned to Vishnu, curious. "Why did you follow me?" she asked. Vishnu hesitated, clearly nervous. Before he could respond, Radhika spoke up with a smile. "Shalini, it’s clear — this is a crush. I could tell, even as an investigative journalist. I've seen the signs." Vishnu lowered his head, embarrassed, but with a shy smile. Shalini was touched by Vishnu’s gesture. While she didn't yet have romantic feelings for him, she appreciated his kindness and the way he had saved her from a major issue. It made her think, Maybe I should consider him as a partner in life. K.Ragavan 4-12-24