Small Story 408.

Small Story 408 Journey of Happiness with Santosh Mysore was chilly that morning when Ramaswamy arrived at the railway station. It had been two decades since he retired as the Headmaster of the Government School on Brindavan Road. He had once lived near the Venkateswara Temple, and now, memories of those days filled his mind. As he stood there, someone called his name. Startled, he turned around. A man in his mid-thirties smiled warmly at him. “Sir, don’t you remember me? I’m Santosh — your student from twenty years ago.” Ramaswamy’s eyes lit up. Of course, he remembered Santosh — one of his brightest students. Santosh came from a humble background; his father worked as a cleaner in the corporation’s garbage depot. Despite his struggles, the man had been honest and determined to see his son become an IAS officer. Some of the other students used to mock Santosh for his background, but he always topped the exams. Ramaswamy admired him for his intelligence, sincerity, and positive attitude. During Deepavali, Ramaswamy and his wife, Amritha, would invite Santosh home for sweets and dinner. Having no children of their own, they treated him like a son — though some neighbours and students gossiped about it. After Amritha fell ill, Ramaswamy moved to Chennai to be closer to relatives for her treatment. Years passed, and he had lost touch with everyone in Mysore. Now, he had returned, hoping to revisit his old places and memories. As he was about to hire an auto, Santosh said, “Sir, please don’t! I’ll drop you. I’m now the DC posted here in Mysore.” Ramaswamy was pleasantly surprised. Santosh drove him to his old friend Seshan’s house and promised to pick him up in the evening for tea. Later that day, Santosh came as promised and took Ramaswamy to his government quarters. The house was neat and welcoming, with a serene prayer room and a photograph of Swami Vivekananda adorning the wall. Santosh introduced his wife, Anita, a gynecologist practicing in Mysore, and their son, Partha, a student in Grade 3— studying in the very same school where Santosh once studied. Anita warmly welcomed Ramaswamy. “Sir, my husband always speaks about you — how your guidance and encouragement shaped his life. We’re honored to meet you.” After spending a wonderful evening filled with memories and joy, Ramaswamy returned to the station the next day. As the train moved, he looked out of the window and whispered to himself, “My visit to Mysore was truly joyful. Seeing Santosh succeed makes me proud. Education indeed plays the most vital role in life.” K.Ragavan 24-10-25