Small Story 571.

 Small Story 571.

The Theatre Encounter

Radha arrived at the theatre, expecting her friend Suganya to be waiting with the tickets. Ten minutes passed, but Suganya didn’t show up. Soon, Radha received a call.

“Hey Radha, I’m so sorry! My uncle suddenly came from the US, so I couldn’t make it. I’ve informed the theatre manager. His name is Basavaraj—collect your ticket from the office.”

Radha followed the instructions, collected the ticket, and entered the hall. The movie was Dhurandar Part 2, which she had been eager to watch. Though disappointed that Suganya couldn’t join her, she settled into her seat as the film began.

After two hours, the interval arrived. Radha glanced at the seat beside her and noticed a handsome man sitting there. He smiled.

“Hey, I think I’ve seen you at my friend’s place in Malleswaram.”

Radha looked surprised. “Oh really? Who is your friend?”

“Manjula—my cousin. I’m Krishna, working as an HR Head in an audit firm.”

“I’m Radha. Nice to meet you,” she replied warmly. “Yes, I think I saw you during the Satyanarayana Pooja at Manjula’s house.”

They both smiled, recognizing the connection.

After the movie ended, Krishna offered, “Where do you stay? I can drop you.”

“No, it’s okay,” Radha hesitated at first. But seeing the heavy crowd and difficulty in getting an auto, she agreed, trusting him as Manjula’s cousin.

Krishna dropped her home safely and handed her his card. “Good night,” he said before leaving.

A few days later, Manjula called Radha.

“Sorry I couldn’t come that day,” she said.

Radha laughed and explained how she met Krishna at the theatre and how he dropped her home. “He’s a very decent gentleman,” she added.

Manjula teased, “Oh, you met Krishna? Do you like him?”

Radha was puzzled. “Why do you ask?”

“Just like that,” Manjula replied mysteriously and ended the call.

A few days later, Radha’s parents told her, “Someone is coming to see you today for marriage.”

Radha wondered who it could be. Within half an hour, Krishna arrived—with his parents and Manjula.

Smiling, Manjula revealed the truth: “Krishna saw you during our Pooja and told me he liked you. So I planned everything—the theatre meeting was not a coincidence!”

Radha was shocked. “Oh my God! I thought your uncle came from the US!”

Manjula laughed. “He did—but I told him you didn’t need to come. The ticket plan was all ours so Krishna could sit next to you.”

Radha and Krishna looked at each other and smiled.

Though the movie was full of action and drama, it was in that very theatre that their real-life love story began.

Soon, their marriage was fixed—with everyone happily agreeing that Radha and Krishna made a perfect pair.

K.Ragavan

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