01-10-2026, 08:23 PM
The Temple Encounter
Sunday morning, Padma visited a nearby temple.
After finishing her prayer, she stepped outside and adjusted the edge of her saree.
Then she noticed Rajan near the entrance.
He wasn’t alone.
Beside him stood a woman Padma had never seen before. She was elegant and effortlessly polished, with long, beautifully styled brown-highlighted hair, subtle professional makeup, manicured nails, tasteful jewellery, and a fashionable outfit that was clearly expensive without being flashy. She carried herself with the ease and confidence of someone accustomed to a comfortable, affluent life.
Padma became suddenly aware of her own simple saree and the slightly faded edge she had just smoothed down.
Rajan noticed her.
? Rajan: “Padma?”
Padma stopped.
? Padma: “Rajan…”
The woman looked between them.
? Ananya: “You know each other?”
Rajan smiled.
? Rajan: “Yes. We studied at the same college.”
He turned toward the woman.
? Rajan: “Padma, this is Ananya.”
? Ananya: “Hi, Padma. We’ve heard about each other, apparently.”
Padma smiled politely.
? Padma: “Nice to meet you.”
Ananya returned the smile.
? Ananya: “Nice to meet you too.”
There was an easy familiarity between Rajan and Ananya—small smiles, quick glances, the comfortable way they spoke to each other, sometimes even finishing each other’s sentences without effort.
From near the steps, Rajan’s mother called out.
? Rajan’s mother: “Rajan, Ananya, come. We’re getting late.”
Padma noticed that.
The way his mother called both their names together made their relationship suddenly feel more real.
? Rajan: “We should go.”
He looked at Padma.
? Rajan: “Take care.”
? Padma: “You too.”
Rajan and Ananya walked away together.
Padma watched them for a moment before leaving.
She didn’t think much more about it.
At least, not yet.
Sunday morning, Padma visited a nearby temple.
After finishing her prayer, she stepped outside and adjusted the edge of her saree.
Then she noticed Rajan near the entrance.
He wasn’t alone.
Beside him stood a woman Padma had never seen before. She was elegant and effortlessly polished, with long, beautifully styled brown-highlighted hair, subtle professional makeup, manicured nails, tasteful jewellery, and a fashionable outfit that was clearly expensive without being flashy. She carried herself with the ease and confidence of someone accustomed to a comfortable, affluent life.
Padma became suddenly aware of her own simple saree and the slightly faded edge she had just smoothed down.
Rajan noticed her.
? Rajan: “Padma?”
Padma stopped.
? Padma: “Rajan…”
The woman looked between them.
? Ananya: “You know each other?”
Rajan smiled.
? Rajan: “Yes. We studied at the same college.”
He turned toward the woman.
? Rajan: “Padma, this is Ananya.”
? Ananya: “Hi, Padma. We’ve heard about each other, apparently.”
Padma smiled politely.
? Padma: “Nice to meet you.”
Ananya returned the smile.
? Ananya: “Nice to meet you too.”
There was an easy familiarity between Rajan and Ananya—small smiles, quick glances, the comfortable way they spoke to each other, sometimes even finishing each other’s sentences without effort.
From near the steps, Rajan’s mother called out.
? Rajan’s mother: “Rajan, Ananya, come. We’re getting late.”
Padma noticed that.
The way his mother called both their names together made their relationship suddenly feel more real.
? Rajan: “We should go.”
He looked at Padma.
? Rajan: “Take care.”
? Padma: “You too.”
Rajan and Ananya walked away together.
Padma watched them for a moment before leaving.
She didn’t think much more about it.
At least, not yet.
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