Small Story 146 .The Sweet Decision Janaki had always loved preparing sweets, and Badhusha was her specialty. This evening, she had prepared a batch for her nephew Chander, who was fond of it. Chander had been away for five years, ever since he moved to Australia, and Janaki was thrilled to see him again. Her only daughter, Rekha, had recently married and moved to the US, so Janaki and her husband Seshan were living alone in their apartment, though they had good neighbors. Exactly at 4:30 PM, Chander arrived. Janaki’s face lit up as she hugged him tightly, and Seshan greeted his old friend with the same warmth. After a long hug, Chander couldn't wait to taste the Badhusha. He took a bite and said, “Athai, how do you prepare it so perfectly? Yummy, yummy, so tasty!” He eagerly took two more pieces. Janaki, noticing his enthusiasm, offered him one more, but he refused. "Athai, there should be a limit to everything. Too much of sweets can lead to sugar complications," Chander remarked with a smile. Janaki was impressed by his self-control. After reminiscing about old memories, Janaki's curiosity led her to ask, "When are you going to marry? You're already 35. I’m a little worried about your age." Chander sighed, "I’m not interested in marriage, Athai. Right now, I’m working as a Coordinator for a reputed NGO, focusing on the well-being of people suffering from diabetes. I’ve seen how overconsumption of sugar can ruin lives and even cause organ failure. In this work, I met a like-minded lady, Vasanthy. Both of us are deeply committed to helping people with diabetes, but neither of us is interested in marriage." Janaki was amazed, "I applaud your decision, Chander. But why don’t you both marry? You seem to have a lot in common." Chander shook his head. "No, Athai. Our priority is to help those suffering from diabetes. Both Vasanthy and I share the same vision — we want to prevent the devastating effects of sugar consumption. While we both love sweets, especially Badhusha, we are careful and conscious about our intake." Janaki was stunned by Chander's clarity of thought at such a young age. "That’s such a noble cause, Chander," she said, nodding with admiration. Chander continued, "That’s why I don’t visit India very often. All the relatives keep asking me about marriage, but I believe that in today’s world, every gender is educated, earning, and well-settled. The real challenge is whether a couple can truly understand and respect each other. While many couples are happy, I’ve also seen many struggling. I’ve decided that, for now, my focus will remain on helping people with diabetes. If I were to marry, I wonder if my partner would support this mission as much as I do. Vasanthy and I share the same vision, and we both feel that marriage is not the right step for us at the moment." Janaki was taken aback, but she admired Chander's unwavering commitment to his cause. "Such a mature decision, Chander. It’s not easy to think this way at your age." As Chander prepared to leave, he thanked Janaki and Seshan for the warm welcome. "Your Badhusha is still the best, Athai. But I must stick to my limits. I hope you understand." "Of course, Chander," Janaki said, her heart filled with respect for his decision. "Your work is truly remarkable." Seshan nodded in agreement, adding, "Chander’s decision is laudable. While people like him and Vasanthy are working tirelessly to combat diabetes, the number of people consuming sugary foods is only increasing." Janaki, as she watched Chander leave, couldn't help but reflect on his wise words. Despite the growing awareness about diabetes, the sweet allure of sugar was hard to resist for many. But for Chander, his sweet decision was clear — his mission was bigger than any personal desire for marriage. And Janaki couldn’t help but feel proud of the young man he had become. The evening ended with the sweet fragrance of Badhusha lingering in the air, and a new perspective on life that Janaki would carry with her. K.Ragavan. 4-2-25