Small Story 70 A Decision Beyond Love

--- Smsll Story70.A Decision Beyond Love Janaki anxiously looked at the clock—it was 5 PM. Her son Anand had been a source of pride for her and her husband Ramnath, who had recently retired as a chief reporter for a leading newspaper. Anand, a gold medalist in Chartered Accountancy and a national-level basketball player, was a handsome, smart young man who worked for a multinational bank, often traveling abroad. Today, however, there was something different. At 7 PM, the parents of a potential bride were coming to meet Anand. Janaki’s phone suddenly rang—it was Anand. "Mummy, you’ve forgotten! The girl’s parents are coming at 7 with her horoscope. I’ll be there in 20 minutes. Do you need anything?" "No, just come home soon," Janaki replied, hanging up the phone. She glanced at the clock again. The doorbell rang at 7 PM, and the girl's parents, Prakash and Pankajam, arrived. After the formalities of exchanging horoscopes, Prakash, a retired Inspector General from the Crime Branch, was clearly impressed by Anand's accomplishments. "My daughter Vasanthy is a CA as well, and I believe she would be a good match for your son," he said. Janaki was equally impressed when she saw Vasanthy's photograph—a beautiful, slim, and tall woman with a radiant smile. Both families agreed to confirm their decision within a week. The following week, Prakash and Pankajam invited Anand’s family to their home in Uthirahalli to meet Vasanthy in person. On Sunday, Anand was equally impressed by Vasanthy. However, just as the conversation was flowing, Prakash received a phone call with shocking news—his elder brother, who had been ill, had just passed away. The sudden grief left everyone in a somber mood. Ramnath, who was a principled man, immediately recognized that such an unexpected situation was not a good omen for the families. "Prakash, in light of this, I think it would be best to discontinue the relationship," he said calmly. Anand, although initially hesitant, trusted his father’s wisdom. Over the years, Ramnath had always guided him with sound advice, and Anand respected his father’s decisions. Without disappointment, Anand nodded in agreement. The relationship was called off, not due to any fault of the families or their children, but because of an unforeseen event that everyone felt was a sign. It was a hard decision, but Anand knew that sometimes, life’s course must be respected—even if it doesn’t align with personal desires. K.Ragavan 7-11-24 ---