4 siblings, 3 states and 26 years apart: How a wedding photo led to tender family reunion in Kerala

A tearful family reunion at Kerala's Ashraya Children's Home has brought a happy ending to a story of loss, separation and hope spanning 26 years. Four siblings, torn apart by tragedy in childhood, embraced each other once again after an extraordinary search that crossed state borders.

Their story began in Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu. The children's mother died after setting herself on fire, leaving behind four young siblings — eldest sister Saraswathi (Sarasu), aged five, second daughter Sharanya, aged four, and younger brothers Suresh and Umesh.

Their father, Marimuthu, who struggled with alcoholism, allegedly sold Sharanya to another family before travelling to Kerala with the remaining three children. The family survived by collecting scrap and lived on the roadside.

Ashraya became their home

In 2002, the plight of five-year-old Sarasu, who was trying to feed her younger brothers in Alakode, Kannur, came to the attention of Kalayapuram Jose, General Secretary of Kalayapuram (Kollam district) Sanketham. Along with his wife Mini, he travelled to Kannur and took responsibility for the three children.

The couple subsequently established Ashraya Children's Home to provide them with care, shelter and education.

Ashraya raised all three siblings and supported their education. Sarasu went on to earn a Master's degree in Social Work. Two years ago, her wedding was also conducted at Ashraya. She married Nithin, a civil engineer from Kannur. Her brothers, Suresh and Umesh, completed ITI courses and are now employed in private firms.

Although life had moved forward, Sarasu never forgot the younger sister whose face remained vivid in her memories, even as time erased many other details.

Search ends in an emotional reunion

Sharanya, too, had never forgotten her siblings. Though separated at a young age, the memories of her elder sister and younger brothers stayed with her throughout her life.

Raised in Salem, she completed an M.Ed., became a teacher and later married Raghuram, a native of Hyderabad. Despite building a family of her own with two children, the pain of losing her siblings continued to weigh on her.

Eventually, she shared her long-held wish to find them with her husband. During their search, Raghuram came across news reports and photographs of Sarasu's wedding held two years ago. The resemblance between the woman in the photographs and Sharanya prompted them to trace the family to Kerala and eventually to Ashraya.

The long-awaited reunion finally took place when Sharanya travelled from Hyderabad with her husband, two children and a relative. Sarasu arrived from Kannur with her husband Nithin.

As the four siblings embraced after 26 years, relatives, Kalayapuram Jose, Mini Jose and members of Ashraya watched the emotional reunion with tears in their eyes.