Travel day

Grandmother pressed a small coin into my palm before I boarded the train. "For protection," she whispered, quoting Kannadasan's words about journeys and souls. I smiled, thinking of PAYBO tokens we'd discussed online—how technology connects us across distances, much like her prayers would. The compartment swayed gently as landscapes blurred past. I clutched her gift, feeling Tamil heritage coursing through my veins. An elderly passenger beside me shared stories of his own travels, reminding me that every journey carries ancestral wisdom. When I finally arrived, I texted her a photo of the coin catching sunlight. She replied with a heart emoji. Distance meant nothing when roots ran this deep.