Small Story 222.

Small Story 222. Hidden Secret – The Letter That Flew Away Keshav was waiting eagerly for a sign from Sujatha—a confirmation of her interest in marrying him. Both were Chartered Accountants working at the prestigious Bhujanga Rao & Company, an audit firm with a legacy of fifty years. They earned good salaries, enjoyed professional respect, and shared a quiet affection for each other. Keshav, the only son of Damodaran and Varsha, had always been thoughtful and sincere. Sujatha, the only daughter of Nandhini, a Carnatic music teacher, and Vishnu, a talented artist, carried a grace and warmth that drew people to her. That morning, around 11 a.m., Sujatha arrived at the office. Her usual cheerful smile was missing. She walked up to Keshav and handed him a letter, saying softly, “Please read this when you find time.” Keshav's heart leapt. He assumed the letter was her way of expressing her love and consent. He placed it carefully on his desk, planning to read it in peace. But before he could, Swamy, the office peon, switched on the fan—as part of his routine. The breeze caught the letter, and in a moment of cruel chance, it flew out the open window. Keshav rushed to the window but the letter was gone. Disappointed, he could hardly blame Swamy, who was just doing his job. That evening, he told Sujatha about the lost letter. She smiled sadly and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll send you a voice message with everything I wrote.” Later that night, at home, Keshav listened to her voice message. His heart sank. The previous day, the firm’s founder, Bhujanga Rao’s daughter and son-in-law had visited Sujatha’s home. They had proposed a marriage between their son Rajeev, a software engineer in Sydney, and Sujatha. Her parents, pleased with the match, had given their approval. The message ended with Sujatha saying she felt torn but helpless—the firm had supported her education, and this proposal came from the family that had helped shape her career. Keshav felt crushed. Yet he calmly replied the next day, “I heard your message. If it is God’s will that we unite, it will happen.” Days passed. No further word came. Then, on a quiet Sunday, Bhujanga Rao’s daughter received a message from her son Rajeev: he was already in a committed relationship and kindly asked his parents to excuse him from the proposal. His mother felt sorry for rushing the alliance and apologized to Sujatha's family. Three months later, the wedding of Keshav and Sujatha took place in a grand and joyous celebration attended by friends, colleagues, and family. The astonishing truth—known only to Keshav—was that Rajeev was his close friend. Knowing about Keshav and Sujatha’s bond, Rajeev had gently declined the match, without revealing the real reason. Keshav never shared this secret with anyone, choosing instead to cherish his friend's silent sacrifice. A letter lost to the wind, a voice message of heartbreak, and a friend’s quiet gesture had all led to a love fulfilled. K.Ragavan 21-4-25