Small story 143.

Small Story 143: Acceptance of Reality Ragunath had come to the airport to see off his friend, Ramnath, who was heading to Sydney for an official visit. After checking his baggage, Ramnath was waiting for Ragunath. As soon as Ragunath arrived, he greeted his friend with an apology. "Sorry I’m late, heavy traffic," he said, handing over a small packet to Ramnath. "This is for my nephew; he will receive it at Sydney Airport. Have a nice and safe journey." With the short duration of Ramnath’s flight, the two friends parted ways. Ragunath headed out of the airport to his car, and as he was leaving, his wife, Shreya, called him. "Have you given the packet to Ramnath?" she asked. Ragunath nodded in response. "What’s in the packet?" he asked again. "My nephew Sudarsan is doing a pooja for Sri Ramanujar, so I bought some saffron for him," Shreya explained. After hearing this, Raghunath said, "Okay, I’ll go straight to the office now. I’ll see you in the evening." Both Ragunath and Ramnath worked at the same company. While Ramnath was in charge of export operations and traveled frequently, Ragunath was the Administrative Manager for the entire group. Ragunath had a daughter, Vasanthy, who was in her final year of B.Com. She was smart, intelligent, beautiful, and had a respectful, god-fearing nature. Shreya was humble and simple, and together they made a happy family. Ramnath, on the other hand, had only one son, Arjun, who was studying and working in the U.S. Ragunath had always hoped that Vasanthy would become Arjun’s wife, and the two would live in the U.S. for a few years before returning. His wife, Shreya, also liked this idea. However, the course of events would soon take an unexpected turn. That evening, when Vasanthy came home, she brought good news. "I got a job at a leading audit firm in Jayanagar," she said excitedly, referring to the company where she had participated in a campus interview. The family was proud and happy about her success. The next day, Ragunath received a call from Ramnath in Sydney. The news he shared was a shock. "Arjun is proposing to his colleague, Sophia, for marriage," Ramnath said. Ragunath was stunned. "What’s your opinion on this?" he asked. Ramnath explained, "Pankajam and I never expected this, but after hearing about Sophia, we both like her. She lost her parents at an early age and was raised by her uncle, Davidson, a well-mannered, respectable man who follows the ISKCON principles. Sophia is also aligned with these values. Even if she were a pure American, Pankajam and I would still agree to this marriage. Our son’s happiness matters most, and we cannot oppose his wishes." Ragunath listened quietly. Ramnath continued, "We believe that understanding, respect, shared sentiments, and mutual compatibility in food and faith are essential for a successful marriage. Arjun and Sophia are aligned on all these points. So, we are accepting this relationship." Ragunath, who had initially hoped for Vasanthy to be Ramnath’s daughter-in-law, realized the wisdom in Ramnath's acceptance. He understood that ultimately, it was God’s will that had guided things, and sometimes, one must embrace what is meant to be. The situation showed him that life often doesn't unfold as planned, and it’s important to accept reality with an open heart. K. Ragavan 1-2-25