Small story 628.

 Small Story 628.

The Same Feeling Confirmed at a Devotional Gathering

Nandhini came to the mall for the second day in a row, hoping to see the handsome young man she had noticed there the previous day. By chance, she had seen him while looking at the latest model iPhone in a large mall in Denver.

Recently, Nandhini had joined a major insurance company as a Program Manager through her close friend, Vasanthy. Vasanthy worked as a Senior Manager for a pharmaceutical company and had settled in Denver. The two had studied together in college and remained close friends.

As Nandhini was browsing, a lady approached her.

"Hello, are you from India?" she asked.

"Yes," replied Nandhini. "I'm from Bangalore. What is the matter?"

"Nothing special," the lady smiled. "After seeing you, I felt like inviting you to a Lakshmi Pooja at my house tomorrow. My name is Sugandhi, and I work as an online reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Since you seemed to be from India, I thought you might like to join us."

She offered her phone number and address and even suggested arranging transportation if needed.

Nandhini had come to the mall for an entirely different purpose, but now it seemed as though Goddess Lakshmi herself was inviting her. She gladly accepted and decided to drive to Sugandhi's house the next day, as it was only eight miles from her home.

Later, she called Vasanthy and told her about the unexpected invitation.

"Can you come with me tomorrow?" she asked.

"Sorry," Vasanthy replied. "I have an important meeting and won't be able to make it."

The next day, Nandhini arrived at Sugandhi's spacious home. Around fifteen ladies had already gathered for the pooja. Sugandhi warmly welcomed everyone and served refreshments before the ceremony began.

Just then, a man's voice was heard.

"Sorry, Sugandhi. I am late."

Nandhini turned around and was stunned. It was the same handsome man she had seen at the mall.

Sugandhi smiled and said, "This is my brother, Varun. He works at a bank here in Denver and has come for the pooja."

Nandhini's heart skipped a beat.

After an hour, the pooja concluded successfully. A delicious lunch was served, and Varun helped his sister attend to the guests.

As everyone prepared to leave, Nandhini thanked Sugandhi.

"Thank you so much for inviting me. Please visit my home sometime."

She handed Sugandhi her visiting card. Varun also exchanged cards with her.

The very next day, Nandhini received a phone call.

"Hello, Nandhini. This is Varun."

"Hello," she replied.

"To be honest," he said, "I was actually searching for you at the mall yesterday morning, wondering if you would come again."

Nandhini was astonished.

"What for?" she asked softly.

Varun laughed gently.

"I'll be frank. When I saw you, I felt as if I had seen an angel for the first time in my life."

For a moment, Nandhini could not speak. Finally, she whispered,

"The same feeling happened to me when I saw you."

Both laughed happily.

Two days later, they met at a hotel and spent hours talking. By the end of the meeting, they realized they shared the same values, dreams, and affection for each other. They decided to become life partners.

Sometimes, the same crush happens to both people at the same time. Varun and Nandhini were a perfect example of this rare and beautiful coincidence.

Three months later, their parents arrived in the United States, and with the blessings of family and friends, Varun and Nandhini were married in a joyful celebration.

K.Ragavan

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