Destiny at Work: When Coincidence Finds a Purpose!

“Tourist?”

I heard a soft voice behind me as I walked into the elevator. I turned, and my gaze locked with a tall, well-built, middle-aged gentleman who had entered just after me.

With a tired smile, I replied, “Not really.”

He didn’t seem satisfied with my answer. His curious expression made it clear that he was expecting more details.

“I am from Odisha but live in the U.S.,” I added. But his curiosity remained. So I continued, “I’m from Berhampur. After visiting family, I’m staying in Bhubaneswar for a few days for different projects.” This naturally led to his next question.

“What do you do for work?”

“Well… I’m a homemaker. Not exactly a paid job,” I smiled. “I also write… I mean, people think I’m a poet. That doesn’t pay either.”

“Oh, you’re a writer! Have you published any books?”

“Actually, yes. I recently published one on Ashtanayika.”
That answer piqued his interest.

It was already past 10 PM, and after a long day, I wasn’t necessarily in the mood to keep the conversation going. But his pleasant demeanor encouraged me to continue our small talk until we reached our floor. I guess our rooms were at opposite ends of the same floor.

After a few more minutes of conversation, I said, “How about we meet for breakfast tomorrow? Maybe around 10-ish? Let’s call it a night.”

“Sure, but I eat early,” he replied.

“Oh, I usually have brunch and dinner. I’ll try, but please don’t wait for me. Have a good night.”

As I turned to leave, I asked, “By the way, I didn’t catch your name?”
He said his name softly, but perhaps it didn’t register with me. We parted ways.

It had been a long day, and I still had to text my kids and call my husband and mother-in-law before crashing into bed. By the time I finally slept, the small talk from the elevator was almost erased from my mind.

When I woke up the next morning, it was already close to 8 AM. It took me a moment to recall my promise from the night before. Hurriedly, I got ready, though I wasn’t sure if he had been serious about meeting.

Since breakfast was included with the hotel stay, I went down to the dining area. Not seeing him there, I checked the time and assumed he had probably already finished his breakfast. I wasn’t particularly hungry yet, so I sat leisurely, catching up on messages and starting my day with a cup of tea.

About fifteen minutes later, to my pleasant surprise, he arrived. He admitted that he had intentionally delayed, hoping to meet me. What surprised me even more was that he had taken the time to research me, browsing my website and reading a few of my articles. Here, I must confess, I had forgotten his name and had not researched him.

As our conversation continued, he showed genuine appreciation for my passion for literature and my dedication to charitable efforts for the people of India, despite having lived abroad for almost three decades. He was intrigued by the variety of experiences I had gathered over the years and, most of all, by my ability to express them in words for the benefit of others.

Our discussion continued on various topics relevant to Odisha, particularly its rich art and culture. He spoke about how he found this place to be his second home. During our conversation, I asked what had brought him to Bhubaneswar. That’s when I learned he works for a leading software solutions company, which has an office in this city.

We often come across people who unintentionally talk a lot about their power, position, connections, and achievements. What stood out most about him that day was his genuine curiosity about my work and his appreciation for Odisha’s warm hospitality, rather than any attempt to boast about himself. In fact, he never even mentioned that he was the CEO of the company, which I found out later. His gentle manners left a lasting impression on me.

After breakfast, he was set to check out from the hotel and head back to Mumbai. But I was still trying to recall his name. To avoid the embarrassment of asking outright, I handed him my phone and requested that he enter his name and number so we could stay in touch. Sudhir, his name, seemed perfectly suited to his soothing personality.

Our brief encounter must have left an impression because, over the next few days, we exchanged messages. In the meantime, he explored more of my work, enjoying some of my Odia lyrics and blog posts.

I have always believed that connections happen for a greater reason!

I belong to a small group of passionate people who formed a non-profit, SASI (South Asian Study Initiatives). The mission is to spread awareness and support for the livelihood of indigenous artisans.

Through my involvement with SASI, I learned from Dr. Annapurna Pandey ji about a forested area where women not only struggle for their livelihood but also work tirelessly to protect the nearby forest. While I was in India in February 2025, I visited the remote village panchayat of Gochha, the last settlement before the forest starts. It is located 45 km from Ranapur NAC. This village and nearby villages are known as Thengapali (thenga -bamboo stick, pali – taking turn) villages. Basically, people from this area, especially women, take turns to watch the forest for any intruders and animals to protect. Women also collect Shala tree leaves and Siali vine leaves to craft eco-friendly dinnerware as a main source of income for their family.

Deeply moved by their dedication, I created a short vlog (watch here) documenting my visit and shared it with friends, indirectly encouraging them to contribute toward supporting these village women. A small effort, such as providing machinery, could significantly ease their daily labor. Not only would this lighten their workload, but it would also help multiply their output, leading to better earnings and a more sustainable livelihood.

To my surprise and joy, my humble attempt touched many. A few friends even reached out, offering financial contributions to help make a real difference in the lives of these women. Sudhir was the first to respond, asking for details. He not only expressed his strong belief in sustainability and women’s empowerment but also actively promoted eco-friendly consumer products.

He shared with me a philosophy that deeply resonated – uplifting rural communities to create economic parity and curb urban migration. On a broader level, he believes in driving positive change in the communities where we operate. True to his word, he promised to ensure that his company’s CSR funds would support the village I had visited.

During one of our conversations, I had asked him if he ever wondered how souls connect due to their past life connections. That led to a deeper discussion.
He confessed that the depth of friendship sparked from our elevator encounter had left him amazed too. He even added that, although he was neither a writer nor a poet, nor deeply inclined toward spirituality, he felt an inexplicable connection to my poems and blogs – as if they unfolded something deep within him.

I jokingly told him, “Well..glad you are not one of them. That’s why peanut butter and jelly complement each other. Perhaps my introspective nature versus your practical, business-oriented mindset made the connection more interesting and meaningful.”

Life comes full circle!

Time and again, I have realized that life has a way of weaving unexpected encounters into meaningful connections. What began as a fleeting conversation in an elevator blossomed into a purpose-driven bond, creating real impact, a friendship I will cherish forever.

Perhaps, as Sudhir once quoted, “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” Some connections are simply meant to be bridging paths, aligning intentions, and reaffirming the unseen forces that guide us. And in this case, it truly feels like destiny at work, gently nudging us toward something greater than ourselves.