Small Story 184.

Small Story 184. The Promise of Tradition Sumitra and Mukund were overjoyed when they received the good news that they were about to become grandparents. Their daughter, Sunanda, who had been living in Boulder, Colorado for the past five years, had just sent the message. Sunanda, a banker, and her husband, Laxman, a professor at a leading university, had been married in Kumbakonam five years ago. Now, they were blessed with a baby girl. Mukund, a retired finance controller, came out to hear the news. Sumitra, with a smile, whispered the joyful tidings to him. Mukund immediately sent a message to Sunanda, expressing his happiness. He then called his old friend Murali to share the news. Murali was thrilled and playfully declared that he had already found a bride for his grandson. Murali’s wife, Ambujam, took the phone next. "Anna, good news!" she exclaimed. "My son Srikanth and his wife Lakshmi will be overjoyed to hear about the new granddaughter." After a few minutes of conversation, the call ended, and both families were delighted to share in the happiness of the new birth. Mukund and Murali, having shared many memories and strong bonds over the years, hoped their children’s families would follow the cultural values passed down through generations. As per tradition, both families believed in the importance of maintaining connections between their children. A month later, Mukund and Sumitra traveled to Boulder to meet their granddaughter. The little girl was adorable, and Sumitra lovingly named her Kotha and Sinduja. Laxman invited his friends over for a grand dinner to celebrate the arrival of the baby. The event was attended by over thirty people and was filled with joyous programs, including Bollywood songs that brought everyone together. During the evening, Murali called to wish the event success. Laxman took the opportunity to announce that Kotha, his daughter, would one day marry Ajay, the son of his dear friend, Shrikanth. The guests were surprised by this early announcement of a future marriage, but Laxman explained, "Our families have always been bonded in tradition. This promise will be fulfilled. We are restoring the cultural values and connections that our ancestors believed in." One guest asked, "Why announce the marriage of a newborn now?" Laxman replied, "Because the bond between our families has been made public. Our traditions must be honored, and this promise must be kept. Ajay is five years old now, and I am confident that when the time comes, he will care for Kotha. In 23 years, we will follow our philosophy of family unity and tradition." The evening concluded with a delicious dinner, and guests left with smiles, content in the knowledge that the promise of tradition and family bonding would continue for generations to come. K.Ragavan 14-3-25