Small Story 98.The Stable Ship.

Small Story 98. The Stable Ship Rajamani and Pichumani were good friends who studied together and later joined the Railway Accounts Department. Both were from Dindigul, which was another coincidence. Rajamani's nephew was a film editor, and Pichumani's cousin was a cinematographer. Both had worked on many films and received awards for their exceptional contributions. Rajamani had only one son, and Pichumani had only one daughter. Despite being friends for over three decades, neither was willing to see their children marry each other. Many of their mutual friends were curious as to why they didn’t want to bring their children together as life partners. Rajamani's son eventually married the daughter of a leading doctor, while Pichumani's daughter married the son of a wealthy businessman. After a few years, both families moved to a senior living community, a new concept with houses that were well-maintained and had all necessary facilities. The families no longer had to cook or worry about daily chores. Initially, their children were skeptical about the idea, but eventually, they agreed. Years passed, and Rajamani’s son had two children, while Pichumani’s daughter had two children, a boy and a girl. On their 80th birthday, both friends celebrated together with their families. After the function and rituals, Rajamani and Pichumani made a special announcement to the gathering: "We did not want to become Sammandhis and spoil our friendship. For us, friendship is the only ship that is stable and not shaky." The entire crowd was stunned and applauded their deep bond of friendship. K.Ragavan 5-12-24