Small Story 200.

Small Story 200. The 200th Day: A Sweet Memory of Love and Sacrifice Chander returned home from the office and saw his mother, Vasanthy, cutting vegetables. He handed her a packet of assorted sweets with a smile. "For you, Mummy," he said. "Today is my friend's birthday, and he gave this to our family." Vasanthy nodded, appreciating the gesture. "Oh, nice! All the sweets are lovely and tasty. You take some too," she offered, showing him the packet. After spending some time together, both mother and son went for a walk. Vasanthy, fond of old Tamil songs, started humming along to her favorite one, Mayakama Kalakkama. She loved the classics, and her husband, Pawan, shared the same fondness. Pawan was currently on deputation in Odisha for one year and had been away for 200 days. This long separation from her beloved husband was unlike anything they had experienced before. Vasanthy at 54 years old, cherished her memories with Pawan, while Chander, at 27, kept track of the days. Every day, Vasanthy made a note on the calendar, crossing out a day she patiently waited for Pawan's return. Today marked the 165 th day left for him to come back to their home in Bengaluru. As she walked, memories of her time with Pawan came flooding back. It was the first time she had ever missed him so deeply. When they returned from their walk, Chander reminded his mother, "Mummy, today marks 165 days until Dad comes back, right?" Vasanthy nodded, smiling. "You're always right, my dear." Just then, the phone rang. It was Pawan calling from Cuttack. "Hey, how are you both? Today, our bank's accountant had a birthday, and I got a box full of sweets thinking you’d be with me." He chuckled. "I told him that my wife loves sweets and doesn’t want me eating out without her. I can manage, but she won’t!" Vasanthy's eyes welled up with tears of joy. "Oh, dear, you’re truly amazing. Today, Chander's friend’s birthday also brought us a box of your favorite sweets. What a beautiful coincidence on the 165 th day of your return to Bengaluru!" After a few minutes of reminiscing about the old days, Pawan and Vasanthy ended the call. Chander, filled with love and admiration for his parents, realized the true meaning of sacrifice and affection. His father had chosen not to bring his mother to Cuttack, knowing how much she valued staying home with him. On this special 200th day, Chander felt the bond of love between his parents more deeply than ever. It was a day marked by sweet memories, and as Vasanthy and Chander looked at each other, they shared a moment of quiet reflection on the sacrifices made by both parents, and the love that would always bring them together. K.Ragavan. 30-3-25