Thirty-three years ago, a fresh agricultural graduate and her companion embarked on an overnight bus journey from Nagercoil to Chennai for an exam the following morning. Their dreams were shattered when they awoke to commotion and learned of the tragic assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Stranded in an unknown place with no means to resume their journey, the women faced a disheartening setback. However, luck intervened when they recognized a passenger who led them to a nearby town where they could seek assistance.
With heavy hearts and suitcases laden with mangoes, they set out on foot, their physical burdens mirrored by the weight of their disappointment. As they walked, they witnessed the plight of other travelers stranded by the tragedy, including elderly passengers cramped within a crowded train and individuals suffering from illness. Their own setbacks faded into insignificance amidst the shared experience of adversity.
Finally reaching their destination, they were overjoyed to connect with their family, their spirits soaring as if they had passed the exam. This unplanned adventure became an unexpected lesson in resilience and the pursuit of meaning. It taught them that their paths may not always lead to intended destinations but often end where they need to be, a sentiment echoed by Douglas Adams’ famous quote, “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”
