Small Story 199.

Small Story 199. Merit Finds Its Way" After five years, Sindhuja landed at her grandparents' home in Udupi. Having settled in Sydney with her parents, she came to visit her beloved grandparents, Sanjay and Pankajam, both in their mid-seventies. They were managing well, blessed by their family deity, Lord Krishna, who was known worldwide. Sanjay lived in an independent house, equipped with modern facilities and a beautiful garden, while Pankajam, a versatile writer, was known for her works on female liberties, admired by thousands of readers. Sanjay and Pankajam greeted their loving granddaughter, Sindhuja, who was now in her forties. Sindhuja worked as a Consultant Architect Engineer for a prominent Sydney-based firm. Her son, Siddharth, studying in the 8th grade, was a chess prodigy, winning numerous awards at various tournaments. Her husband, Ram, a multi-talented consultant, worked with the pharmaceutical industry, offering innovative ideas for new startups. After gifting her grandparents some homemade sweets, especially Badhusha and Mysorepak—Sanjay’s favorite treats—Sindhuja reminisced about the past with them. Later, she took a stroll through the garden with her grandma, admiring the newly planted roses, carefully tended by Sanjay's hands. In the evening, an old friend, Smitha, visited after five years, and the two were delighted to catch up. Smitha, also an architect engineer, worked for a Bengaluru-based company and had come to visit her parents. Smitha's daughter, who was in the 8th grade, was the same age as Siddharth. After spending a couple of hours together, Smitha asked Sindhuja if she could help with something. She mentioned her cousin, Vinod, who had completed a BPharma and was looking for better prospects. Vinod was a brilliant student with excellent credentials, and Smitha was hoping Ram could assist him with a potential opportunity in Sydney. Sindhuja promised to speak with Ram about it that evening. The next day, Smitha emailed Vinod's CV to Sindhuja, who promptly forwarded it to Ram. A week later, Sindhuja received an email from Ram. One of his clients, based in Sydney, had seen Vinod’s CV and recognized him from their time at the same pharmacy college. The client mentioned that Vinod was an outstanding student, often praised by their professor. He offered to bring him on board once the project formalities were complete. Sindhuja was thrilled with the news. Three months later, Vinod joined Ram's client’s company in Sydney with a great salary package. Smitha was grateful to Sindhuja for her timely help, which had made a difference in Vinod's career. To their surprise, Ram later learned that Vinod was actually a close relative of his good friend Aravind, making the connection even more meaningful. Everything had fallen into place, thanks to merit and the right people recognizing it at the right time—people like Sindhuja and Ram, who had given Vinod the opportunity he deserved. K.Ragavan 29-3-25