Small Story 123. The Unresolved Bonds

Small Story 123 The Unresolved Bonds Prabhakar was sitting in the lounge of his business class club, waiting for his flight to Boston. The time until his departure was still an hour, and he was enjoying some light snacks. Suddenly, he heard someone call his name. Turning around, he was surprised to see his old classmate, Nandhini, sitting behind him. "Hey, how are you? Are you going to Boston?" Nandhini asked, smiling. "Yes, Nandhini, how are you? How did you know I’m going to Boston?" Prabhakar replied in surprise. "Your daughter, Revathy, is there. I guessed," she explained. They chatted for a while over snacks, reminiscing about the past, and soon it was time to board their flight. As they took their seats on the plane, Prabhakar noticed that they were sitting next to each other. Both in their fifties, they exchanged pleasantries, with Nandhini now a reporter traveling frequently for her work, while Prabhakar was a program manager at a leading software company. Nandhini’s son, Varun, was in his final year of engineering, and her husband, Ramesh, was a doctor in general medicine. The two had lost contact for seven years, and Prabhakar explained that he had not invited Nandhini to his daughter’s wedding due to their lost touch. Nandhini, however, was understanding and said, "No problem, Prabhakar. I can meet her in Boston." The conversation turned to family, with Prabhakar revealing that his son-in-law, Keshav, was a mechanical engineer working for Tesla. "Is he from Madurai?" Nandhini asked in a whisper. "Yes, how do you know?" Prabhakar asked, surprised. "He is my cousin, and our families haven’t been in touch for some years due to a misunderstanding. Please, don't tell him I’m in Boston," Nandhini requested. After reminiscing about old times during the long flight, they finally arrived in Boston. Nandhini gave Prabhakar her business card and said her goodbyes. "See you, Prabhakar." As Prabhakar was greeted by his daughter, Revathy, and son-in-law, Keshav, at the airport, he chose not to mention his encounter with Nandhini. The drive to his daughter’s home was pleasant, and Prabhakar was impressed by their beautiful house, which was well-equipped with modern amenities. During his stay, eight days passed quickly. One evening, the three of them went shopping at Costco. While waiting in line, Keshav saw Nandhini and greeted her, "Hey, how are you?" Nandhini smiled and waved, introducing herself to Keshav and Prabhakar. She was about to leave, but Keshav insisted on dropping her off. Though reluctant, Nandhini agreed. During the car ride, Keshav asked, I want to ask you directly—why has Mama not talked to us for years?" Nandhini looked at him and explained, "I didn’t know until recently. My mom told me your brother married a Scottish woman, and that upset Dad. He had plans for my sister Nivedha... That was the reaso gasped. "Oh my god... this is the reason. Mama is such a gem of a person. Aunt too."Keshav Whisphered Fifteen years of unresolved suspense were now finally answered. But Nandhini’s joy was short-lived when she learned that her cousin, Sridhar, had passed away in an accident with his wife. "I’m so sorry, Keshav ," Nandhini said softly. The news left Nandhini in shock, but it also helped her understand why her family had distanced itself for so long. She called her mother immediately to share everything that had unfolded. Her mother reminded her that Keshav was now the only cousin left on that side of the family, urging Nandhini to not lose that bond. Nandhini agreed, her heart feeling lighter. What began as an official visit had unexpectedly solved the decades-old suspense between their families. The long-standing misunderstandings were finally cleared up, and Nandhini knew that these newfound bonds would be cherished forever. K.Ragavan 12-1-25 .