Small Story 378.

Small Story 378 A Colourful Navaratri and a Surprise for Roshani Shubha was busy welcoming the guests she had invited for the Navaratri festival. Each day, she invited eight of her friends from various professions. Her husband, Mahesh, also invited three of his friends daily. Their house in Jayalakshmipuram was beautifully decorated with vibrant lights, glowing in celebration. For the past ten years, Shubha had been celebrating the vibrant Navaratri with great enthusiasm, and the Mysore Dasara, world-famous for its grand procession, added to the festive spirit. Shubha's daughter, Roshani, was especially excited that day—her childhood friend Vandhana was visiting from Kollegal. Vandhana, who now lives in Singapore, was in town for the holidays and had promised to visit Roshani. As the clock struck 7 PM, Vandhana arrived with her parents. Shubha was delighted to see them after two long years. After a delicious dinner catered by Anand, a well-known chef famous for his Navaratri dishes, the evening continued with laughter and nostalgia. Mysore, being home to many legendary Sandalwood actors, always carried a touch of stardom in the air. Roshani and Vandhana reminisced about their school days at Nirmala Convent and later at Maharani College. After spending two joyful hours together, Vandhana and her family headed back to Kollegal. Roshani, who wasn’t keen on marriage just yet, had big dreams of expanding her journalism career. She admired several prominent journalists, especially one former WION anchor known for her authenticity and command over language. While chatting with Vandhana, she was thrilled to learn that Vandhana’s neighbor is a relative of that very journalist—and promised to share her contact soon. Shubha was happy that all her guests had attended the event, making the Navaratri celebration a success. Roshani, too, felt a special happiness that day—not just because of the vibrant festivities, but also because she was now one step closer to connecting with her journalism idol. K.Ragavan 24-9-25