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