Small Story 284.

Small Story 284: Delhi Badhusha Vishal heard the good news from his mother, Nandhini — her elder brother, Ram, was coming to Bengaluru from Delhi after five long years, along with his wife, Vasanthy. Ram, 57, works in the Intelligence Bureau and is a thoughtful, composed man. His only daughter is settled in the U.S. Vasanthy, 53, is equally mature and kind, making them a well-matched couple. Nandhini and her husband, Shubhas, were thrilled to see Ram again. Vishal, in his final year of engineering, was especially excited — his beloved “Badhusha Uncle” was finally visiting! The nickname came from Ram's love for Indian sweets, especially Badhusha. On the expected day, Ram and Vasanthy landed in Bengaluru in the evening and arrived at Nandhini’s independent house in Banashankari. Seeing her brother and sister-in-law after so long, Nandhini was overjoyed. She welcomed them warmly with her special homemade Badam Cake. The family sat together reminiscing about old memories. As they waited for Shubhas to return from work, Ram and Vasanthy shared updates about life in Delhi. Later, over dinner, Ram and Shubhas spoke about the rapid development of Bengaluru — the traffic, new infrastructure, and how the city had changed. Ram acknowledged that while progress was evident, more attention was still needed from the authorities. Shubhas agreed. That night, after a delicious dinner, they all watched an old Rajkumar Kannada movie and retired with smiles on their faces. Over the next ten days, Ram and Vasanthy enjoyed visiting many beautiful places, including Udupi, Mysore, and Shimoga. Vishal was delighted to receive a new phone as a gift from his favorite uncle. Every moment spent with Ram was joyful — full of stories, laughter, and warmth. For Vishal, Ram was not just a beloved uncle but a symbol of love and kindness — and of course, a lover of sweets. That’s why the name “Delhi Badhusha” suited him perfectly. K.Ragavan 22-6-25