Small Story 249.

Small Story 249. "Man Proposes, God Disposes" Ram was delighted to receive an invitation to his friend Swamy's son Ravi's wedding, scheduled to be held next month in Chennai. He shared the news with his wife, Lakshmi, who readily agreed to accompany him. Ram and Swamy had been close friends since their retirement from the Government Health Department. They both lived in Bengaluru for some time before Swamy relocated to Chennai after his son Ravi secured a good job in a bank. It had been six years since Swamy moved, and Ram was excited at the prospect of meeting him again. Ram’s only daughter, Mithra, had moved to Canada with her husband Sanjay and their son Vijay, while Ram and Lakshmi continued to live in a centrally located apartment near Banashankari in Bengaluru. Just two days before their planned trip to Chennai, Ram received an urgent call from another close friend, Desikan. Desikan had suffered a severe health issue and was admitted to a hospital in Bengaluru. Ram and Desikan had become friends through a morning walking group and later bonded further at a local Toastmasters club. Without hesitation, Ram rushed to the hospital. The doctor informed him that Desikan needed to be observed for at least two more days. Knowing that Desikan lived only with his wife and had no other immediate support, Ram decided to stay by his side. Desikan, aware of Ram’s travel plans, tried to dissuade him. But Ram reassured him, saying, “Don’t worry. I’ll be here with you.” Thanks to timely care and support, Desikan recovered fully and returned home after four days. He was deeply grateful to Ram for standing by him during such a critical time. Ram later called Swamy to explain the situation. Swamy, understanding the gravity of the matter, appreciated Ram’s decision and also expressed concern for Desikan, whom he knew well. A week later, Ravi and his new bride visited Ram’s house in Bengaluru to seek blessings from both Ram and Desikan. Ravi shared stories of their honeymoon at his favorite destination and felt blessed to be surrounded by his father's loyal friends. Reflecting on the sequence of events, Ram thought, "We may plan, but what actually happens is not in our hands." It was a true lesson in the age-old saying: "Man Proposes, God Disposes." K.Ragavan 18-5-25