Small Story 156.

Small Story 156 The Unseen Connection* It was 7:30 PM, and Chander raised the question that had been on everyone's mind—*Why hasn’t Rakesh come to the party yet?* Muthu shrugged, answering, *He probably forgot about it today.* Normally, whenever there was a party or a function, Rakesh, Muthu, and Chander would always attend together. But tonight, Rakesh was missing. Just as the conversation continued, Rakesh called. *Hey buddies, I totally forgot—it’s my dad’s birthday today! I need to go to the children’s home and distribute sweets. I’ll be late. Go ahead and enjoy without me.* Muthu, feeling a little disappointed, thought to himself, *Why did they schedule the party today?* Chander, equally unsure, replied, *We’ve already reserved our table. There’s nothing we can do now.* Both reluctantly sat at their reserved seats at a famous restaurant. The waiter arrived and took their orders. Suddenly, a voice interrupted. *Can I sit here?* A young woman in her mid-20s had approached their table. Chander looked at her, smiled, and said, *Sure, no problem. Our friend couldn't make it, so you're welcome to join us.* The woman introduced herself as Roshini, a tourist visiting India on holiday to see her parents in Davangere. She was leaving for the US the next morning and was staying at the Taj Residency. Muthu and Chander, both bachelors, were charmed by her. As they chatted about Bollywood films, politics, and the latest city developments, the two men found themselves thoroughly enjoying her company. Her insights and engaging conversations thrilled them. *If Rakesh were here, he would have really enjoyed this,* Chander thought. When the bill came, Muthu insisted on paying, despite Roshini offering to cover it with her card. Afterward, they exchanged phone numbers and email addresses. The next day, Rakesh met with Muthu and Chander. He narrated the story of his absence. *Every year, on my dad’s birthday, I go to the children’s home to distribute sweets in his memory. For the past five years, I’ve kept up this tradition. Before he passed away, my dad, Panchapakesan, would do the same, despite his struggle to educate me on a meager salary from his job in a private company. I continue this tradition now, with gratitude, as I remember how much he sacrificed for me.* Both Chander and Muthu applauded Rakesh’s continued dedication to his father’s legacy. A few days later, both Chander and Muthu received an email from Roshini, inviting them to attend her graduation ceremony in Chicago. She requested their passport details and mentioned that she would be sending them the flight tickets. Rakesh, hearing the news, was amazed. *A lady we met at a dinner, who lives halfway across the world, is inviting us to her graduation ceremony and sending us tickets? That’s a rare kind of friendship.* Rakesh was happy for his friends, even though he had not been there to enjoy the evening with them. And so, on that party day, despite the unplanned twists and turns, the three friends parted ways, each with a sense of happiness and fulfillment—each one continuing their own unique journey, and their bonds growing stronger. K.Ragavan 14-2-25