Small Story 390.

Small Story 390 Unexpected Academy Encounter Vasanthi received a call from her close friend Malini, inviting her over for tea that evening to discuss something important. Malini, an independent investigative journalist and winner of several prestigious awards, rarely called without reason. Though surprised by the sudden invitation, Vasanthi agreed immediately — after all, they had been close friends for over two decades, coming from well-cultured families. At exactly 4:00 PM, Vasanthi arrived at Malini’s home in Judicial Colony. Malini welcomed her warmly, saying, "You’ll be surprised why I called you today." Over tea and Malini’s favourite cashew burfi, they reminisced about their days in Tirunelveli. Then, Malini revealed the real reason for the meeting: “My nephew Rakesh from Singapore wants to meet your daughter, Ranjitha. He’s arriving at 4:30. He’s very interested in joining the OO1 Academy.” Vasanthi was intrigued. Her daughter Ranjitha was currently working as a key assistant at the renowned OO1 Academy in Mysore — a prestigious institution known for training elite investigative officers. At exactly 4:30 PM, Rakesh arrived. A tall, handsome young man with a sharp gaze and calm demeanour, he introduced himself: “Hello, Madam. I’ve heard so much about OO1 Academy and its Chief. I work for a private investigative agency in Singapore. My aunt Malini said your daughter is closely involved there, and I was hoping to meet her before I return to Singapore next week.” Vasanthi replied, “Ranjitha had some urgent work in Bangalore, but she’s currently in VV Puram. I’ll ask her to come over.” Two hours later, Ranjitha arrived. As soon as Rakesh saw her, he was captivated — not just by her beauty, but by her confidence and reputation in the field. Ranjitha, too, was struck by his presence. There was an unspoken connection. They spent the evening discussing investigative work, sharing ideas and experiences. Vasanthi watched them with quiet joy, sensing a rare and natural bond between them. The next day, Ranjitha took Rakesh to Mysore and introduced him to OO1 himself. Impressed by the Academy, Rakesh promised to return in a month and join the next training batch. True to his word, Rakesh joined OO1 Academy the following month. Over time, the bond between Rakesh and Ranjitha deepened. Both families saw their compatibility and, a few months later, agreed to their marriage. What started as a quest to join an elite investigation academy turned into something much more meaningful. Rakesh didn’t just become a part of the academy — he became the life partner of one of its finest officers. Together, Rakesh and Ranjitha pledged to dedicate their lives to OO1 Academy as a powerful investigative duo. K.Ragavan 6-10-25