Small Story 22.Good Destination Meet.

Small Story 22.Padmanaban arrived at Egmore Station, his small suitcase in hand. With no need for a porter, he made his way through the bustling station, full of vibrant colors and activity. He quickly found his compartment and settled into his seat in the three-tier AC coach. His destination was Rameswaram, and though he had retired ten years ago with a comfortable pension, his life had become a series of aimless travels since his wife’s tragic accident three years prior. Without children or close family, the days felt increasingly lonely. As he sighed, murmuring to himself about the toughness of life, a woman approached. “Excuse me, seat number 3?” she asked, holding a bag. Padmanaban looked up and gestured to the opposite side of the compartment. “It’s over there,” he replied. Once she had settled, the woman introduced herself. “Hello, I’m Malavika, heading to Madurai.” Padmanaban smiled. “I’m going to Madurai too. Nice to meet you, Malavika.” As the train began its journey, the two started chatting in English. Malavika, who worked for a multinational company in Dubai, was traveling to Madurai to visit her uncle. Padmanaban learned that she had lost her father in a car accident when she was twenty, and she was now hoping to reconnect with her uncle, who had been out of touch for a while, with the hope of adopting him as a father figure. Their conversation revealed deep, unspoken desires and loneliness. Padmanaban felt a pang of sympathy. He understood Malavika’s longing for a father, and she understood his sense of emptiness, having never had children of his own. As the night wore on, Padmanaban made a silent vow to visit his friend in Madurai and then travel to Rameswaram to explore the possibility of adopting a girl. Both retired to sleep, their minds heavy with their personal quests. The next morning, at Dindigul Station, Malavika’s phone rang. She answered, and her face fell as she received the devastating news: her uncle had passed away the previous week from a heart attack and had disappeared into the sea during his bath. The body had not been recovered. Padmanaban, witnessing Malavika’s grief, felt a deep sadness for her loss. He offered his condolences. “I’m so sorry to hear that, Malavika.” Through her tears, Malavika responded, “I feel so unlucky. I thought I had a chance to find my father figure. You must be happy with your own family.” Padmanaban, moved by her words, replied gently, “I’m not happy, Malavika, not with a son or daughter. But if you would like, you could call me ‘dad.’” Malavika looked at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of hope and disbelief. “Would you really be willing to?” “Yes,” he said softly, “if it brings you comfort. I’ve been searching for a purpose and a way to fill the emptiness. Maybe this is the way.” A tentative smile spread across Malavika’s face, and for the first time in a long while, both felt a sense of connection that promised to fill the voids in their lives. K.Ragavan.