Small Story 302.

Small Story 302: A Chance Encounter That Turned Into an Opportunity Radhika took the metro from Banashankari Station. The train was unusually crowded at that hour. She was heading to Vajrahalli Station, where her office was located. Radhika worked at a reputed consulting firm that specialized in overseas recruitment. She held a degree in Business Management, just like her boss, Aravind. The firm employed ten staff members and was known for its fair and transparent recruitment process. As the train reached Yelachenahalli Station, a young man stood up and offered his seat to Radhika. She politely declined. "Thank you, my stop is just two stations away. I can manage standing." The young man nodded and then asked, "What is your good name?" Radhika was stunned. A stranger asking her name so casually was a first for her. She felt like saying, "None of your business," but held back when she noticed his innocent face. When she got down at Vajrahalli, she was surprised to see the same young man getting off right behind her. This made her slightly uneasy. After walking a few steps, both of them stopped at the same point. Just then, a smart-looking woman in her 50s approached Radhika. "Are you Radhika, Nandhini’s daughter?" she asked. "Yes. What do you want?" Radhika replied, still cautious. "My friend Nandhini told me to meet you at your office regarding a job for my son. He is my son—Rajeev, a Business Management graduate," the woman said, pointing to the young man beside her. Rajeev smiled. "Madam, I only asked your name to make sure you were the right person. I know it wasn’t appropriate, but I’ve been unemployed for over six months, and I was a bit desperate. My mother, Padma, who was seated next to me on the train, asked me to confirm your identity. You didn’t notice her." Radhika realized her earlier judgment had been harsh. His face was indeed innocent, and his explanation genuine. She invited them to her office and, after going through the necessary formalities, helped arrange a job for Rajeev in Dubai. Padma later shared that she was a close friend of Vasanthy, Radhika’s mother. After offering them tea, Radhika felt shy and a little guilty about her initial assumptions. After successfully registering his name, both mother and son left with a smile. A random metro encounter had turned into a life-changing opportunity. K.Ragavan 10-7-25