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Chandran was a young man studying in the final year of college. He was bright, curious, and full of dreams, often wandering through the streets of his town after classes, lost in his thoughts about life and the future. He loved reading books, especially about history and literature, and spent many hours discussing ideas with his close friends, Ramu and Mohan. His college life was filled with lectures, debates, and long walks under the evening sky, where he often imagined what he would become after finishing his studies. Everyone saw him as a polite and intelligent boy with a promising future.
At home, Chandran lived with his parents, who were proud of him but also quite traditional. His father worked hard to provide for the family and often reminded Chandran to focus on his studies and not waste time daydreaming. His mother cared deeply for him, always ensuring he ate well and rested properly. Chandran respected them both, but inside, he longed for freedom—to explore life beyond books and classrooms. He often felt caught between the old-fashioned expectations of his parents and the modern ideas he learned at college.
As the final exams approached, Chandran started to study more seriously. He wanted to score high marks and make his parents proud. Yet he also felt nervous, wondering what life would bring after college. The thought of stepping into the real world both excited and frightened him. During this time, he met a girl named Malathi, the daughter of one of his family’s friends. She was beautiful, graceful, and soft-spoken. The first time he saw her was at the riverbank when she came with her friends to bathe in the river. Chandran was mesmerized by her simplicity and charm. Her image stayed in his mind all day.
Soon, Chandran began finding excuses to pass by her house or visit the same temples where she and her family went. He did not dare speak to her, but even a glance felt like magic. He felt love for the first time—pure, shy, and thrilling. He spent hours thinking about her smile and her eyes. At night, he would write her name in his notebook and imagine conversations that never happened. His studies slowly began to take a backseat as he became more and more lost in thoughts of Malathi.
After the exams ended, Chandran could no longer hide his feelings. He confessed his love for Malathi to his mother and asked her to speak to Malathi’s parents about a possible marriage. His mother was surprised but pleased that he had chosen a respectable girl from a good family. She approached Malathi’s father with the proposal, but things did not go as hoped. Malathi’s father was very traditional and wanted his daughter to marry someone from the same caste and horoscope match. When he consulted the astrologer, the stars did not align for Chandran and Malathi. Despite Chandran’s mother’s efforts, Malathi’s father refused the proposal.
The rejection broke Chandran’s heart. He could not believe that something as beautiful as love could be stopped by superstition. He became restless and unhappy, losing interest in everything. He avoided his friends and stopped eating properly. He spent hours walking along the riverbank where he had first seen Malathi, his mind heavy with sorrow. One day, he heard that Malathi was soon to be married to someone else. The news shattered him completely. He felt lost and angry at fate, at society, and at himself.
Unable to bear the pain, Chandran decided to leave home without telling anyone. He packed a small bag, took some money, and left for Madras by train. When he reached there, the busy city life overwhelmed him. He wandered the streets, confused and lonely. The tall buildings, noisy crowds, and endless traffic made him feel invisible. With no one to talk to and no plan in mind, he kept walking aimlessly, sleeping at railway stations and surviving on small meals. The days turned into weeks, and soon he had spent all his money.
One day, while sitting under a tree, a kind stranger offered him food and started talking to him. The man was a priest who lived near a temple. He invited Chandran to stay with him for a few days. Feeling lost and tired, Chandran accepted. The calmness of the temple and the priest’s kindness brought him some peace. Gradually, Chandran started helping the priest with small tasks like cleaning, fetching water, and arranging offerings. He began wearing simple clothes and grew a beard. People started calling him “Swami,” thinking he was a holy man who had renounced worldly life.
For several months, Chandran lived this new life of silence and simplicity. He began to reflect on his past—his studies, his dreams, and his lost love. The pain slowly faded, replaced by a strange calm. He realized that running away had not solved anything; it had only left his parents worried and his life without direction. One evening, while watching the sunset by the temple, he decided it was time to return home. He thanked the priest for his kindness and left quietly, determined to face life again.
When Chandran reached his hometown, his parents were shocked but overjoyed to see him. His mother cried with relief, and his father, though pretending to be stern, could not hide his happiness. They had thought he was dead or gone forever. Chandran apologized for his actions and promised never to run away again. Slowly, life at home returned to normal. However, Chandran was no longer the same boy who had left months ago. He had grown wiser, calmer, and more thoughtful.
After a few weeks, Chandran decided to start looking for work. He did not want to depend on his parents anymore. He moved to a nearby town and began working as an agent selling newspapers and subscriptions. The work was not easy, but it gave him purpose and independence. He walked from door to door, talking to people and convincing them to subscribe. Sometimes he succeeded, sometimes he didn’t, but he kept going. Over time, he built a small circle of friends in the new town who admired his honesty and gentle nature.
Even though Chandran was working, he often thought about his past—his days in college, his friends, and Malathi. He wondered if she was happy in her marriage. The thought no longer filled him with pain, only with a quiet acceptance. He realized that life always moves on, even when the heart feels stuck. He also started reading again, spending evenings with books that once inspired him. Gradually, he found a sense of peace that came not from love or success but from understanding himself.
One day, Chandran met his old friend Ramu by chance in the marketplace. They were overjoyed to see each other after so long. Ramu asked him about his disappearance, and Chandran told him everything—his heartbreak, his days as a wanderer, and his return home. Ramu listened with sympathy and invited him to visit their old college friends sometime. Chandran smiled and said he would, but inside he knew he had moved beyond that chapter of his life. He no longer felt the same excitement about youth or the same confusion about love. He was more grounded now.
Months later, Chandran decided to write a letter to his father from his new town, telling him about his work and how he was doing well. His father replied with warmth, saying how proud he was of him for becoming independent and responsible. Chandran felt a deep sense of gratitude. He realized that growing up was not about getting a degree or falling in love; it was about learning from mistakes and finding peace within oneself.
Years passed, and Chandran became known in the town as a reliable and kind man. People respected him for his simplicity and integrity. Though he never married, he was content. He spent his free time teaching poor children how to read and write, finding joy in helping others. Sometimes, when he walked by the river at sunset, memories of his youth would return like soft waves—his college days, his first love, his wanderings—but they no longer brought sadness. Instead, they reminded him of how far he had come.
In his heart, Chandran knew that life had tested him in many ways but had also taught him more than any classroom could. He had learned that love could break, dreams could change, and people could fail, yet life always offered another chance. His journey from a carefree student to a man of understanding had been long and painful, but it had made him stronger. As he looked at the setting sun one evening, a gentle smile crossed his face. He whispered to himself that everything in life happens for a reason—and sometimes, what seems like an end is only the beginning of a new path.