Small Story 115A Serendipitous Journey

Small Story 115. A Serendipitous Journey** Vasanthi entered the airport, greeted by the staff, and headed to the Business Class Lounge. After unloading her luggage and collecting her boarding pass, she went to the Club for breakfast. The place was crowded, and there were no visible seats. Suddenly, a young man stood up and offered his seat to her. Despite her initial hesitation, Vasanthi accepted, placing her handbag on the seat while she went to collect her food. She returned to enjoy a delicious breakfast. Afterward, she made her way to the boarding gate for her flight to Frankfurt. Upon boarding, Vasanthi found her seat and settled in comfortably. A few minutes later, the young man who had offered her the seat in the Club walked by. He introduced himself as Rakesh, heading to Denver, and Vasanthi mentioned that she was also traveling there. Vasanthi was heading to visit her sister, while Rakesh worked as a Program Manager at a bank. The two conversed about their careers, with Vasanthi revealing her role as a freelance journalist writing about politics and good governance. Rakesh was impressed by her work and mentioned that he had seen one of her recent articles in the *New Indian Express*. After a few hours, their flight landed in Frankfurt for a layover. With some time to spare, Vasanthi immersed herself in her laptop. Eventually, they boarded their connecting flight to Denver. Upon arrival, Vasanthi was warmly greeted by her eldest sister, Radhika, and her husband, Ram. She introduced Rakesh to them, and Rakesh departed after leaving his business card and suggesting they keep in touch. Ram invited him to lunch sometime. A few days later, Vasanthi received an unexpected email from a leading magazine in New York, offering her a job. Surprised, she called the magazine and was told by the chief editor that Rakesh had recommended her for the position after reviewing her work and credentials. The editor encouraged her to confirm her acceptance, which would begin the process for her visa and the job offer. Vasanthi consulted with her sister and Ram, who believed it was a great opportunity, especially since they had plans to bring their parents to live with them permanently. After much thought, Vasanthi decided to accept the offer. Three months later, Vasanthi, her father, Desikan, and her mother, Ambujam, landed in Denver. The following day, Ram and Radhika invited Rakesh and his family for dinner. Vasanthi thanked Rakesh for his recommendation, and everyone enjoyed a delightful meal together. The most astonishing part of the story was that Ram and Radhika had orchestrated the entire plan. They had intentionally arranged for Vasanthi and Rakesh to be on the same flight, and Rakesh, unbeknownst to Vasanthi, was a colleague of Radhika’s. It was a serendipitous journey that changed Vasanthi’s life. K.Ragavan 4-1-25

Letter.

A collapsible wall could have minimised casualties in South Korea's plane tragedy The National UAE January 03, 2025 I write in reference to the article South Korea orders airline safety inspections after Jeju Air crash (December 30): I was deeply saddened to read about the plane crash that claimed the lives of 179 people. The loss of so many lives is deeply upsetting. Despite the precautions taken by the aviation industry, incidents such as this continue to occur. While technical issues often contribute to such disasters, these incidents are simply unacceptable. Passenger safety must always be a top priority, and a thorough investigation into the true causes of this crash should be conducted. K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India

Small Story 114. The Unexpected Reunion

Small Story 114. *The Unexpected Reunion* Shyamala entered the newly opened apartment, her heart filled with excitement, but also with a sense of confusion. The security guard greeted her with the news that her friend Rekha was out of the country. Shyamala was taken aback, as just yesterday Rekha had told her over the phone she was in the country. Both Shyamala and Rekha were childhood friends, and despite Rekha’s frequent travels as a project manager for an event management company, their bond had remained strong. Shyamala, a housewife from Kumbakonam, had traveled all the way from her hometown to Chennai to invite Rekha in person to her son Hari’s Upanayanam ceremony. However, with Rekha's sudden departure, Shyamala felt uncertain about what to do next. She could not call Rekha because she didn’t know which country she had gone to, and the time difference made it all the more complicated. She thought of going to visit a relative, an uncle who was near Royapettah Hospital, but she didn’t have his contact details. The tension in her mind grew—she wasn’t familiar with Chennai and didn’t know where to go. Just then, her phone rang. It was Rekha. She explained that she would be traveling to Dubai for a program and would return next week. Rekha advised Shyamala not to worry, offering her a solution: “I’ll message you the address of a friend of mine who lives near my apartment. You can stay there and go to the station in the night.” Within seconds, Shyamala received the address. She asked the security for directions, and after walking for a while, she reached the destination. When she rang the bell, a European lady named Sophia greeted her warmly. "Hi, I’m Sophia. How can I help you?" she asked. Sophia invited Shyamala inside, and Shyamala was stunned by the elegantly decorated hall. After explaining her situation, Sophia reassured her, “Don’t worry, you can join us for lunch. We’ll have sambar, rasam, and rice, just like you like.” Shyamala was taken aback. “You know my food preferences?” she asked, surprised. Sophia nodded, and they sat down at the dining table. Sophia explained, “Rekha is a good friend of mine. We moved here two years ago. My husband works for Philips. What time do you usually have lunch?” “It’s about 10 now, but I can wait until 11:30,” Shyamala replied. At 11:30, Sophia’s husband, wearing a dhoti, came in. He was introduced to Shyamala as Arthanari. When Shyamala heard his name, her heart skipped a beat. "Are you from Kumbakonam?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder. Arthanari confirmed, “Yes, I am.” “I’m Raman’s daughter,” Shyamala said. “I have not met you before, but my dad always spoke of his younger brother who moved to Holland. I’ve been trying to get in touch with him for years.” Arthanari’s face softened as he heard the familiar name. “Oh, my God, I’ve been longing to see my brother. Despite many emails and calls, he never responded.” Shyamala explained, “My father is no more. I’m the only daughter, and I’ve come to invite Rekha to my son’s Upanayanam.” The revelation hit Arthanari hard. Despite the long estrangement between him and Shyamala’s father, the bond of family could not be erased. Arthanari, who had no children of his own, was moved by the occasion. He agreed to grace the Upanayanam ceremony as the only elder left in the family. The ceremony went beautifully, and Rekha,, made it a grand event. The reunion of Shyamala with her long-lost uncle Arthanari added an unforgettable layer to the occasion. In the end, it was more than just a celebration of Hari’s Upanayanam; it was a heartwarming story of unexpected family reunions. K.Ragavan 3-1-25

Small Story 113.A Moment in Ajman.

Small Story 113 A Moment in Ajman Vijay, Sudhakar Shetty (known as Shetty), and Ram were good friends working in Dubai. During their holidays, they enjoyed exploring different Emirates and staying in various hotels of all categories. One day, they decided to visit a famous three-star hotel in Ajman. While relishing the delicious buffet, Vijay quietly whispered to his friends, "Hey, guys, look over there!" Shetty and Ram were surprised to see a familiar face: the popular film actor from Karnataka, Sanjay. Sanjay smiled as he noticed the trio and invited them to join him. "Hello, you’re all from Karnataka!" he said. Vijay nodded and introduced Shetty and Ram. Sanjay then sat next to Ram and continued, "I hope you know me." Vijay replied, "Of course! How can we forget the Sandalwood stalwart?" Shetty added, "I’m your fan, too." Ram, who worked for a leading entertainment magazine in Dubai, smiled and said, "I know every stalwart in the industry." Sanjay explained that he had come to meet a friend who had been in a car accident during a recent trip to the UK. "The last time we were here, we had a great time. I decided to revisit this place in memory of my friend," he said. After spending nearly two hours together, Sanjay paid the bill and left. During their short conversation, the trio learned how Sanjay deeply remembered and cared for his friend. As Sanjay left, Ram whispered, "Today, we’ve made a good friend, and I hope we can stay this way in the future." Shetty, reflecting on the conversation, suggested, "I’m from Udupi, and Vijay is from Hubli, but neither of us has much attachment to our native places. Ram, you’re from Tirunelveli, and it would be nice to live there, surrounded by so many temples." The idea of settling down in Tirunelveli after retirement seemed appealing to all three of them, especially as the traffic and bustle of other cities hadn't yet reached the peaceful town. They agreed to make Tirunelveli their future home. With this decision made, the trio left the restaurant, feeling happy and content after an unexpected meeting with their good friend, Sanjay. K.Ragavan 2-1-25