Small Story 342.

Small Story 342 "Unshaken Loyalty" Today, it started raining again. Santhosh, a devoted fan of the Superstar Rajinikanth, was praying that the rain would stop before he had to leave for the theatre. Just then, he received a call from Mahesh, who confirmed he would reach the theatre by 5:45 PM to collect the tickets he had booked online. Santhosh was thrilled. He was finally going to witness his idol in the latest much-talked-about movie. Despite the criticism the film had received, both Santhosh and Mahesh remained loyal fans of the legendary "Thalaivar," confident that he would deliver his role with unmatched charisma. By 5:45 PM, Santhosh reached the theatre at Mount Road. A huge crowd had already gathered. Some people were even willing to pay ₹1000–₹3000 for tickets to see the Superstar’s new film. Mahesh arrived with their tickets, and they made their way to their seats. Suddenly, they heard a familiar voice from behind — it was their friend Arun, who greeted them warmly. After the film ended, the atmosphere felt different. Many fans looked disappointed and whispered that this wasn’t the usual kind of film they expected from their Superstar. Later, at a nearby restaurant where the friends gathered for tiffin, Mahesh leaned over and whispered, “Even though the movie didn’t turn out great, our hero still did his part.” Santhosh nodded and replied, “True. I like him not just for his movies, but for his humble and respectful nature in real life. Failures can happen... but he’ll always be my favourite star.” Mahesh smiled and said, “Absolutely.” After a good meal and an honest conversation, they all left with their admiration for Thalaivar intact — unchanged by a single setback. K.Ragavan 19-8-25