Small Story 167.

Small Story 167. Strange Encounte * Sanjay was waiting restlessly at the gate for his departure to India. After placing his luggage, a beautiful lady greeted him. "Excuse me, I’m on the same flight. I’ll collect this small cover once I finish in the restroom." Sanjay took the cover she handed him as she walked away with her own luggage. More than twenty minutes passed without any response, and a final boarding announcement was made. Just as Sanjay got up, two policemen escorted the lady and handed him the cover before leaving. "Sorry, I was held up," she said with a smile as they both boarded the aircraft. They settled into their seats, and Sanjay returned the cover to her. "Thank you, I’m Ranjitha," she introduced herself. "I’m visiting my sister’s house." "I’m Sanjay," he replied. "I’m going to attend a course in India for one year." Ranjitha didn’t ask for details about the course, and Sanjay was happy to keep it confidential, not wanting to discuss it with strangers. On the flight from Denver to London, they chatted about Bollywood films, the latest changes in US politics, and the issues surrounding deported migrants. After a sumptuous dinner, they watched a film on the in-flight entertainment system. In London, they continued their conversation, and Sanjay felt a growing curiosity about the two policemen. Finally, he decided to ask. "Ranjitha, why were the two cops with you?" She smiled knowingly and guessed his thoughts. "You want to know something, Sanjay?" He hesitated and nodded, but she continued, "No need to worry about it. You’re a very interesting person, and I don’t want to lose our conversation." The next morning, they arrived in Bengaluru. They parted ways, and Sanjay proceeded to report at the gate of the famous academy in Mysore. The guard directed him to the office, and when he entered the cabin to meet the person in charge, he was stunned to see his co-passenger, Ranjitha, sitting behind the desk. "Good morning, Madam," Sanjay greeted her, showing his credentials. Ranjitha smiled warmly. "Welcome, Sanjay. I appreciate that you didn’t disclose the name of your institute." Sanjay smiled in return, but before he could ask about the cops, she intervened. "The cops who accompanied me? They’re from the FBI. I gave you the cover with an important pen drive for a case I was handling. You are fit for our academy, but remember, you should not reveal your institute’s name." Just then, the Chief of the academy, known as OO1, entered the room, smiling and greeting Sanjay. After a brief conversation over tea and biscuits, Ranjitha escorted Sanjay to his first day of training at the world-renowned OO1 Academy for investigation. Sanjay felt proud to have joined an institute with such talented individuals like Ranjitha and aspired to follow in her footsteps in the future. K.Ragavan 25-2-25 * *