Small Story 119 Senthil's Reunion A Vacation of PeaceReunion

Small Story 119 Senthil's Reunion: A Vacation of Peace Senthil arrived at the Karaikudi bus station, where his old friend Karthik greeted him warmly and took him to his car. They had both studied together at IIT Chennai but had since moved to different parts of the world for their careers—Senthil to Singapore and Karthik to Australia. Both were originally from Madurai. Karthik’s wife’s family hailed from Karaikudi, and they were there on vacation—Senthil had come from Madurai to visit. As they chatted about their college days, Senthil handed a large packet of gifts to Karthik’s son, Venu, who was in the 12th grade. "Thank you, Uncle," whispered Venu, a tall, handsome boy, and a talented cricketer with several medals to his name. "Venu, you should open it and see inside," said Senthil. Venu eagerly opened the gift to find a beautiful shirt with a cricket bat monogram. "Lovely! I like this," he said, clearly pleased by the thoughtful gift, especially since he was an avid batsman. Karthik’s wife, Valliammai, asked with curiosity, "Anna, why didn’t you bring Lalitha with you?" "She had to attend a wedding in Alwar Thirunagari," Karthik replied. "One of her classmate's brother’s wedding. It's a famous Srivaishnava sthalam." After a delicious Chettinad lunch, the friends rested for a while. Later, over tea, Karthik, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, said, "I’m going to take you to a place that will shock you." Senthil, intrigued, asked, "Where, man?" "Wait and see," Karthik replied, as he stopped in front of a grand house. He parked the car and led Senthil inside. When Karthik rang the doorbell, a young boy of about sixteen answered and greeted Karthik with warmth. "Mummy, Karthik Uncle has come!" he called out. A sweet voice from inside responded, "I’m coming," and soon, a beautiful lady appeared. Senthil was stunned. "How is Nandhini here in Karaikudi?" he thought. Nandhini, equally surprised to see him, gasped. They had both attended the same school in Madurai, and Senthil had harbored a crush on her from a young age. She, too, had feelings for him. However, Nandhini’s father, a textile engineer at Madura Coats, had not approved of her marrying Senthil. After that, Senthil had left Madurai to attend IIT, and they lost touch when Nandhini's phone was switched off. Focused on his studies, he excelled and landed a lucrative job offer in Singapore. Nandhini smiled warmly and said, "It’s so good to see you after so many years, Senthil. My dad arranged for me to marry a textile engineer from Karaikudi, a man with a wealthy background. It wasn’t my choice, though. Two years ago, my husband had a massive heart attack and passed away." Senthil realized, in that moment, that life’s decisions were sometimes out of one’s hands. No matter what we choose, ultimate control lies elsewhere. "By the way, what’s your son’s name?" Senthil asked, his curiosity piqued. "His name is Senthil," she replied. "I felt blessed to give him that name because it was my late father-in-law’s name, too." Hearing that name, Senthil realized that, in a way, he had always been a part of Nandhini’s life. Though their paths had diverged, fate had ensured that a part of him remained with her. Senthil’s vacation in Karaikudi not only allowed him to reconnect with old friends but also gave him the peace and closure he had been seeking. In rediscovering old bonds and reflecting on lost relationships, he found a sense of inner satisfaction and a newfound acceptance of the way things had turned out. K. Ragavan 8-1-25