Small Story 792.

 Small Story 792

The Bond of Friendship, Destiny, and Karma

Partha and Sarathy had been close friends since their childhood and college days. They had studied together, shared countless memories, and won several medals in college competitions. However, after graduation, their paths took different directions as both pursued promising careers abroad.

Partha completed his specialisation in SAP and moved to Singapore to build his career in the IT industry. Sarathy, after successfully clearing the prestigious IAS examination, joined the Indian Foreign Service and was eventually posted to Dubai as an officer at the Indian Consulate.

By the time they reached their mid-forties, nearly sixteen years had passed since their school and college days. Although they had once been inseparable friends, they had gradually lost contact. Even in the age of modern communication, neither had made an effort to reconnect. Both had their own reasons, which neither wished to discuss or disclose.

One evening, after a busy day at the Consulate, Sarathy was returning to his residence when his mobile phone suddenly rang.

It was an unfamiliar number.

"Hello, Sir! My name is Rohini. I am Partha's daughter. I arrived in Dubai yesterday, and I would very much like to meet you. My father always spoke about his friendship with you."

Sarathy was taken aback.

"Partha's daughter? I didn't even know he had a daughter! Of course, I would love to meet you. Where are you staying? I will come and see you."

Rohini informed him that she was staying at the Holiday Inn. She also mentioned that she was joining a leading television channel in Dubai the following day as a Programme Manager.

Sarathy immediately drove to the hotel and met her in her room.

Rohini was a smart, confident, and intelligent young woman with a pleasant personality and excellent manners. She welcomed him warmly and offered him a cup of tea.

During their conversation, she explained that she had completed courses in Event Management and Television Anchoring. Her talent and qualifications had helped her secure an excellent position with one of Dubai's popular television channels.

Sarathy was impressed by her achievements at such a young age.

"Rohini, tell me about your parents. How are they? Is your father also in Dubai?"

For a moment, Rohini became silent. Her cheerful expression slowly changed, and her eyes filled with tears.

"Uncle, my father and mother met with a tragic accident while travelling in Malaysia seven years ago. I was still studying at that time. Unfortunately, I lost both of them in that accident."

Sarathy was deeply moved.

Rohini continued, "Recently, while going through my father's personal diaries and old photographs, I came across several pictures of you and him together. There were photographs from your college days, celebrations, and visits to different places. I also found the medals you had won together during college competitions.

"My father had written about how you went to Dubai and he moved to Singapore after your studies. He had mentioned that your friendship was very special to him. When I received this opportunity in Dubai, I remembered his diary. I felt that meeting you would be like reconnecting with a part of my father's life. That is why I called you, Uncle."

Sarathy listened silently, overwhelmed by memories of his dear friend.

After a few moments, he said in a trembling voice, "Rohini, I too have experienced a similar tragedy. My wife and my only son, who would be around twenty years old now, lost their lives in a devastating fire accident when they visited an exhibition in Chennai during a family trip for a marriage. It happened several years ago. Since then, my life has never been the same."

Rohini was shocked to hear this.

"Uncle, it is heartbreaking that both our families have experienced such similar tragedies. Perhaps there were reasons why you and my father lost contact. And now, by some strange coincidence, I have come to Dubai, discovered your photographs in my father's diary, and contacted you. It almost feels as though destiny has brought us together."

Sarathy looked at her affectionately.

"Rohini, I strongly believe in Karma. Your father and I shared a beautiful friendship during our younger days. Unfortunately, after he moved to Singapore, we lost contact, and I never knew what had happened in his life. Sometimes, I wondered why he had not written to me or contacted me.

"But today, I feel that our friendship has found a new meaning. Your arrival in Dubai and your decision to contact me have brought a wonderful change to my life. Perhaps this is the good Karma of our friendship returning to us through you."

Rohini moved closer to him and held his hands.

"Uncle, I have come to Dubai to build my career, but I feel that I have found something much more valuable here. I have lost my parents, but I do not want to feel alone anymore. From today onwards, I would like you to guide me in my career and personal life. You are not just my father's friend. You are someone who can guide me in his place."

Sarathy's eyes filled with tears.

"Yes, Rohini. I will always be there for you. I will guide you, support you, and care for you just as I would have cared for my own daughter. You can consider me your father from today onwards."

Rohini smiled through her tears. She hugged him affectionately and then bent down to seek his blessings with a traditional *Namaskaram*.

Sarathy gently placed his hand on her head and blessed her.

For the first time in many years, his heart experienced an indescribable happiness. He felt that life had given him another opportunity to experience fatherhood.

A friendship that had remained silent for sixteen years had unexpectedly blossomed into a beautiful father-daughter relationship.

**Sometimes, destiny reconnects people not merely to revive old memories, but to fill the emptiness in their lives. True friendship never dies; it may return in a different form, at the right time, through the hands of Karma.**

K.Ragavan