Small Story 154

Small Story 154. A Genuine Gesture Seshan arrived at his friend Nathan's home, having traveled from his native place in Shimoga. Nathan, excited to see him, greeted him warmly. "I'm so happy you came all the way from Shimoga! How could I miss this opportunity? My friend is going to celebrate his Sadabheshagam soon, and I wanted to spend some time with you before that," said Seshan"My wife and son will join us on the day of the function." Shanthy, Nathan’s daughter, who had recently returned from the US for her father's birthday, greeted Seshan and offered him tea. "Uncle, please have some tea," she said with a smile. Seshan took a sip and whispered, "The tea is nice." From the pooja room, Pankajam, Nathan’s wife, came out and warmly welcomed Seshan. "Welcome, Anna. I hope all is well with you." Seshan replied, "Yes, everything is fine." Nathan led Seshan to the guest room upstairs. Both of them settled down and began reminiscing about their college days and the years they spent working together. Seshan was three years younger than Nathan. He had a son who worked in Shimoga, and his wife Vidya was a retired school teacher. Nathan, on the other hand, had only one daughter, Shanthy, who was married and settled in the US. Seshan and Nathan discussed old friends, and Nathan shared some news. "Yesterday, I received a call from Mallika asking me to send ten thousand rupees for her son's medical expenses. I sent it via GPay." Seshan nodded and asked, "How is she?" Nathan explained, "Mallika lives in Arakonam with her son after losing her dad Her son works as a supervisor in a factory, but two weeks ago, he had a stroke. Mallika has suffered a lot after her dad passed away from cancer. She had to sell her property to clear medical dues and now lives with her son." Mallika, who was the daughter of Ramesh, a classmate of Nathan and Seshan, had endured much hardship. Her father, Ramesh, had been suffering from cancer for ten years, and despite spending nearly 60 lakhs on his treatment, he passed away. Mallika, at the age of 50, earned some income through her writing skills and managed to get by with her son, despite their financial struggles. Nathan and Seshan had always supported Mallika, even though they never shared this with their families. They had helped her with more than five to eight lakhs over the years. "We promised Mallika not to let her feel shy or hesitant," Seshan said. "She should treat us like brothers." Shanthy overheard the conversation between her dad and Seshan. Wanting to do something for Rithik, Mallika's son, Shanthy spoke to her husband, the CEO of a leading pharmaceutical company. Using her influence, she made sure that Rithik was selected as a Program Coordinator at a pharma company in New Jersey. On the day of the Sadabheshagam, Seshan's family, Nathan's family, and Mallika’s family gathered at the grand hall of Raghavendra Kalyanamantap. Everyone was enjoying the celebration, reminiscing about the old memories. No one knew the secret of how Rithik had received the job offer in the US. Only Shanthy knew the truth, but she chose not to reveal it. Just like her father had kept their support for Mallika a secret, Shanthy chose to keep her gesture quiet. Good gestures, she knew, didn’t need to be showcased. They spoke volumes about the people who performed them. In this silent yet meaningful act, Shanthy proved she was indeed the daughter of Nathan. K. Ragavan 12-2-25 ---