Small Srtory 221.

--- Small Story 221. Legends Encounter: A Dream Fulfilled in Bengaluru By K. Ragavan | 20-04-2025 Chander came to Bengaluru for the first time, having never left his native town of Lalgudi. His close friend Ram, a long-time resident of Bengaluru, came to receive him at the railway station. The two had been college friends, and their bond had stood the test of time. The last time they met was six years ago at a wedding in Chennai. As they walked toward Ram's car, memories of their youth and family life flowed easily between them. Ram now had a daughter settled in Singapore, while Chander’s son was a flight engineer in Dubai. Both in their mid-sixties, they found joy in talking about everything under the sun. Though it was his first visit to Bengaluru, Chander's passion for Kannada films was remarkable. Being a native speaker, he had a deep love for the language and admired old Kannada movies and legendary actors, watching them regularly on TV. Ram, after retiring, had taken up writing and started a blog, which gained a loyal following. During their drive, Chander expressed a heartfelt desire—to meet a few Sandalwood film personalities, now that he was in the Garden City. Ram smiled and nodded, "Who knows, by God’s grace, your wish may come true." Upon reaching home, Ram’s wife, Ambujam, greeted Chander warmly, speaking in Kannada, “How are you? You must speak your mother tongue here; in this cultural city, we love learning and using local languages.” After a delicious lunch and a hearty conversation, they all took a short rest. In the evening, while enjoying tea and snacks, Chander’s phone rang. He answered, “Hello, I’m Chander. Who’s this?” The voice on the line replied mysteriously, “Tomorrow, you and your good friend Ram are going to meet me at my residence. Though we’ve never met before, I’ve been following Ram's blog and admire his writing.” Then the caller hung up, leaving Chander curious and excited. Ram just smiled and said, “Only 18 more hours, my friend.” The next evening, Ram drove Chander to a place nearby. As they entered the hall, they were greeted warmly—first by the legendary Sandalwood writer and national award-winning director T. S. Nagabharana, and then by the acclaimed editor Suresh Urs. Chander was overwhelmed. He stood speechless, honored to meet these stalwarts of Kannada cinema. What moved him even more was the respect these legends showed his friend Ram, appreciating his blog and thoughtful insights. Over the next two memorable days in Bengaluru, Chander, along with Ram, met award-winning director Nagathihalli Chandrashekar, Prakash Belawadi, Avinash, and Tara. These meetings made his visit even more meaningful.Could not meet Stalwarts Anant Nag,Ramesh Bhat and Ramesh Arvind due to their non availability. Chander returned home with a full heart, deeply thankful to Ram and Ambujam for their warm hospitality—and for fulfilling a long-cherished dream. K.Ragavan 20-4-25