Small Story 767.

 Small Story 767

 A Mistake That Led to a Happy Reunion

Ramu visited his regular café every Sunday evening to enjoy his favourite combination of coffee and vadai. It was around five o’clock when he entered the café. A few customers were already seated, enjoying their evening tiffin.

Ramu walked to his usual seat and settled down. Just then, his mobile phone chimed. It was a message from his mother, Sunanda, who was living in Singapore with his father.

“Hello, Ramu! How are you? How is your health? Your dad and I are fine here, but we miss you very much,” she wrote.

Ramu replied, “Yes, Mummy, I know. But please don’t worry about me. I have joined a good company here in Bengaluru, and I am managing everything on my own. I am doing well. Please tell Dad that I am fine when he returns from the office.”

Sunanda replied, “All right, dear. I have sent you a photograph. Please have a look at it when you get time. Bye!”

Ramu had never been particularly interested in marriage. During his college days, he had been deeply attached to his classmate, Shubha, and they had liked each other very much. Unfortunately, after completing college, Shubha had left for the United States to pursue her higher studies. Gradually, they lost touch with each other, and their relationship remained an unfinished chapter in Ramu’s life.

Since then, Ramu had not developed any interest in meeting another girl for marriage. He was content with his job and independent life in Bengaluru.

When he noticed his mother’s message about the photograph, he was not interested in opening it. Without even looking at the picture, he deleted the message, thinking it was probably a photograph of another girl whom his parents wanted him to consider for marriage.

After finishing his coffee and vadai, Ramu left the café and walked slowly towards his apartment, which was nearby.

Once he reached home, he freshened up and settled down to watch an old Kannada film on television. He was enjoying the movie when his mobile phone suddenly rang.

“Hello! May I speak to Ramu?” asked a female voice.

“Yes, speaking. May I know who this is?” he replied, unable to recognise the voice.

“Ramu, do you remember your college days and your classmates?” the caller asked.

For a moment, he remained silent. Then, suddenly, he recognised the familiar voice.

“Shubha! Is that really you?” he exclaimed with surprise and excitement.

“Oh, wonderful! You still remember me!” Shubha said cheerfully. “My father is a good friend of your father. Recently, he sent my photograph to your father. Your mother told me that she had forwarded it to you. Have you seen it?”

Ramu was stunned. He suddenly realised the foolish mistake he had made by deleting his mother’s message without looking at the photograph. In his determination not to consider another girl for marriage, he had unknowingly deleted the very picture of the woman he had loved years ago.

He felt embarrassed but tried to sound normal.

“Shubha, it is so nice to hear from you! How are you? It has been almost four years since we last spoke,” he said softly.

“I am fine, Ramu. I am sorry, but I have another call to attend to tomorrow’s arrangements. As your mother mentioned, we are meeting tomorrow. We can talk properly then. Bye!” Shubha said before ending the call.

Ramu sat quietly for a moment, wondering how such a small mistake could have caused him so much anxiety. He immediately called his mother in Singapore.

“Mummy, I have made a terrible mistake! You sent me a photograph, didn’t you? I deleted the message without looking at it. Please send it to me again. I now know whose photograph it was!”

Sunanda laughed affectionately when she heard his explanation.

“Ramu, you should have looked at the message before deleting it! Never mind, dear. I will send it again right away.”

Within a few minutes, the photograph arrived. Ramu opened it eagerly, and there she was—Shubha, the girl he had loved during his college days. Seeing her picture brought back a flood of memories, and he could hardly wait to meet her the following day.

The next day, Ramu met Shubha at the house of one of her relatives in Bengaluru, where the meeting had been arranged. Both families welcomed them warmly and gave them time to speak privately.

As soon as they met, Ramu and Shubha began reminiscing about their college days, their friendship, and the happy moments they had shared. They spoke about the years they had spent apart, their studies, their careers, and the circumstances that had caused them to lose contact.

Despite the passage of time, their affection for each other had not completely disappeared. What had once been an innocent college romance now had an opportunity to blossom into a lasting relationship.

Their parents were delighted to see how naturally the two reconnected. With everyone's consent and blessings, the families discussed the wedding arrangements.

Finally, they decided to celebrate Ramu and Shubha’s marriage in Bengaluru two months later.

Ramu felt an immense sense of relief and happiness. A careless mistake had nearly made him miss a precious opportunity, but destiny had given him another chance to reunite with the girl he had never truly forgotten.

He smiled to himself, realising that sometimes life surprises us in the most unexpected ways. What begins as a mistake can sometimes lead to the happiest moments of our lives.

K.Ragavan

18-20-26