Small Story 624.

 Small Story 624.

Memorable Encounter

Vishal and his father, Vishnu, entered their reserved compartment on the train bound for Mangalore. Vishal was traveling to attend his entrance examination at a center in Mangalore the next day.

Suddenly, someone from the first row called out, “Hey Vishnu!” Vishnu turned around and was delighted to see his cousin Nirupa.

“Hi Vishnu! How are you?” she asked warmly.

“I’m fine. How are you? And how is Venkat?” Vishnu replied.

“He’s doing well. I’m going to Mangalore to attend a wedding. What about you?”

“Vishal is going to write his entrance exam tomorrow,” Vishnu said proudly.

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Nirupa said with a smile. “You both can stay at my friend’s house. No need to spend money on hotel accommodation.”

“Thank you, Aunty,” Vishal replied politely. “My exam center is in Mangalore itself.”

After reaching Mangalore, the three of them hired a cab and went to Nirupa’s friend’s house. The moment Vishnu saw the lady who opened the door, he was stunned. She was Rohini — his old college classmate.

Rohini was equally surprised and happy.

“Hey Vishnu! How are you?” she exclaimed.

Nirupa laughed happily on seeing their excitement. “So both of you studied together in college!”

During his college days, Vishnu had secretly admired Rohini, but he had never expressed his feelings to her. After graduation, Rohini had gone abroad for higher studies and later returned to settle in her hometown, Mangalore, with her husband Vinod.

Rohini and Vinod were living a peaceful and happy life. Though they had no children, they lovingly ran a Montessori school for kids. Vinod worked as a chemical engineer in a leading company in Mangalore.

The next morning, Vishal and Vishnu left early for the examination center. After the exam, father and son boarded the train back to Bangalore.

As the train moved forward, Vishnu sat quietly, lost in memories of his college days. He felt grateful that fate had given him an opportunity to meet Rohini again after twenty long years. Vinod too had turned out to be a kind and gentle person.

Vishnu realized that some emotions change beautifully with time. What was once an unspoken youthful crush had now transformed into a pure and divine friendship.

Looking out through the train window, he whispered softly to himself,

“God is kind enough to let me meet my old friend again after two decades.”

K.Ragavan

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