Small Story 283

Small Story 283. The Lucky Prince Seenu received a call from his friend Venu. Both had recently retired from the Indian Air Force and settled in Tambaram. "Hey Seenu, how are you? Why don’t you come over this evening with your wife for tea?" "Okay," Seenu replied, and informed his wife, Lalitha, to get ready. Venu lived just a kilometer away. Both friends had built nice homes and had one son each, working in the same company in Dubai—just like their fathers once did. At 5 PM, Seenu and Lalitha reached Venu's house. They were warmly welcomed by Venu and his wife, Seetha. The tea and snacks prepared by Seetha were delicious. After a while, Venu spoke up, “Do you know why I invited you today? I have some good news!” “What is it?” Seenu asked with curiosity. “My son is sending us a new friend. His friend is bringing him over—he should be here any moment.” Seenu was surprised. “A new friend? What kind of friend?” “Wait and see,” Venu smiled. About half an hour later, Venu’s son’s friend arrived, carrying a small basket. Everyone gathered around as he opened it, revealing an adorable 50-day-old puppy. “My son sent him and asked me to take care of him,” Venu said with joy. “You know how fond I am of pets.” Seenu hadn’t expected this kind of friend. While he appreciated animals, he knew he wouldn’t be able to care for one himself. Still, he applauded Venu’s enthusiasm. Over tea, the young man explained, “This is a very good breed—rare, well-behaved, and with limited growth. He's also very obedient. A British man in Dubai gifted this dog, Prince, to Venu’s son before he returned to the UK.” After spending some time chatting and playing with the puppy, Seenu and Lalitha took their leave. As they walked home, they passed a stray dog on the street. Lalitha softly said, “All dogs are not lucky like Prince.” Seenu nodded, “Very true.” K.Ragavan 21-6-25