Small Story 355.

Small Story 355 The Blogger's Train Crush" Sugandhi sat in her seat on the train, her eyes eagerly scanning the platform. The train was about to depart. The seat beside her was still vacant. She was heading to Bengaluru to visit her brother for the first time since his wedding three years ago. His wife was from Bengaluru, and he'd been transferred there as a bank manager. Because he couldn’t travel back to Coimbatore often due to his work, their parents insisted Sugandhi visit him. As the train pulled out of the station, a young man approached her at the next stop. “Excuse me,” he said politely. “My seat is 14—the window seat.” Only then did Sugandhi realize that, in her excitement, she had sat by the window. Embarrassed, she moved aside. “Sorry,” she whispered. “No problem,” the young man replied with a smile. “I’m Bharath. I usually book the window seat—I love watching the scenery.” His gentle tone and confident presence instantly struck a chord with Sugandhi. “I’m Sugandhi,” she said shyly. “I just finished my Master’s degree in Management. Going to Bengaluru to visit my brother.” “Nice! I work for an IT company in Bengaluru,” Bharath said. “I’m from Mysore—came to attend a friend’s wedding, now heading back.” He offered her a piece of milk cake from the wedding. Sugandhi usually avoided eating anything from strangers, as her father had always warned her. But Bharath seemed decent and respectful, so she took a small piece and thanked him. During the journey, Bharath received three phone calls. Curious, Sugandhi asked, “You seem to get a lot of calls.” Bharath chuckled. “I’m a blogger. Writing is my passion, and this year Google selected my blog as the best in their category. Those were congratulatory calls from readers.” “That’s amazing,” Sugandhi said, impressed. “I'll be honored at a small event in Google’s Bengaluru office on the 25th of this month,” he added. “I just found out yesterday. My parents are thrilled.” “Congratulations,” she smiled. “I read a lot of blogs too.” “Thanks,” Bharath replied softly. “My mom, Reshma, is a writer. She pens stories in both Kannada and English. I’m her biggest fan. She’s the reason I started blogging five years ago.” Sugandhi felt a sudden warmth in her heart. There was something magnetic about Bharath—his passion, his humility. She sensed a quiet connection forming. Bharath, too, found himself drawn to her elegance and calm confidence. As the train pulled into Bengaluru station, Bharath handed her his number. “If you’re free on the 25th, come to the function.” “I’d love to,” Sugandhi said, giving him her number in return. After saying goodbye, she took a cab to her brother’s apartment in JP Nagar. Sugandhi waited eagerly for the 25th to arrive. That evening, her sister-in-law Radhika mentioned, “I’ve recently joined Google as an event manager. Tomorrow we’re hosting a function to honor selected bloggers and writers. Want to come with me?” Sugandhi's heart skipped a beat. She wore her favorite green saree the next day and accompanied Radhika to the event. Bharath’s eyes lit up when he saw her. He received a merit certificate and a prize of $100000. After the ceremony, Sugandhi introduced him to Radhika. She invited Bharath home for tea the next day. Later that evening, Radhika, noticing Sugandhi’s clear affection for Bharath, told her husband Ram everything about their train journey. Ram smiled and agreed to speak to Bharath. At tea the next day, Ram casually brought up marriage. Bharath, who had already seen Sugandhi’s photo on a matrimonial site (sent by his mother), immediately agreed. Two months later, Sugandhi and Bharath were married in Coimbatore. Bharath helped her get a job at his company, and they moved into a flat near Ram’s home. What started as a chance meeting on a train turned into a lifelong journey—two hearts united by fate, a window seat, and a shared love for stories. K.Ragavan 1-9-25