Small Story 455.

Small Story 455 An Unexpected Encounter on the Way to LA Edward was waiting for his friend Antony in the park. Antony had come home on holiday from Los Angeles, where he once worked at the famous Walt Disney Studios before starting his own animation studio. He wanted to take his longtime friend Edward on a one-month visit to the United States. Antony arrived and greeted Edward warmly. Edward, now sixty, was still fit and carried himself with the confidence of a retired army officer. His only son served in the Navy, and both his son and Antony’s parents were settled in Bengaluru. Antony, now fifty-five, had never married—his only love had failed long ago, and tragically, she had passed away. He devoted himself to his work instead and had built a good name in the animation field, offering opportunities to many of his old friends. After sharing coffee at a nearby restaurant, the two friends parted for the night, planning to meet again at the airport at 3 a.m. Their flight was scheduled to depart at 5:30 a.m. Early the next morning, they checked in, had breakfast in the lounge, and finally settled into their business-class seats. Antony and Edward were seated separately. Next to Edward sat a young woman who introduced herself as Elizabeth. She was travelling to Los Angeles to visit her relatives. Edward introduced himself and talked about his visit to LA and other parts of the U.S. After their nine-hour journey to London, during a moment of quiet relaxation, Elizabeth opened up about her past. Her parents had passed away long ago in an accident. She showed Edward a photograph of them. When Antony happened to see the photo, he was stunned. The woman in the picture was Maria—his old love. In that instant, he realized Elizabeth was Maria’s daughter. Elizabeth went on to explain that she had completed her studies in visual communication and was hoping to find a job in the field because her father, who had adopted her after the accident, was battling cancer. Hearing this, Antony made a quiet decision. He would offer her a place in his studio. Turning to Edward later, he said softly, “God has given me a chance to return the love and affection I once had for Maria—through her daughter.” Edward felt deeply moved. His trip to LA had unexpectedly brought a moment of healing, reconnection, and new beginnings for his friend Antony—far more meaningful than either had imagined. K.Ragavan 10-12-25