Small Story 313.

Small Story 313. An Unexpected Encounter at the Buffet Every evening after retirement, Damodaran had a routine. He would visit the nearby library, read for an hour, meet his old colleagues at a nearby restaurant for tea, and return home by 6:45 PM. That evening, as he entered his house, his wife Mallika greeted him with a cheerful smile. “Hello, dear. Our grandson Suresh called from Ramya’s house. He has invited both of us for a morning buffet at the famous 24th Main Road restaurant tomorrow at 9 AM,” she said. Damodaran hesitated. He wasn't keen on breaking his morning walk routine. But Suresh—having returned from the UAE after completing his studies and joining a reputed organization in a good position—especially wanted his beloved grandfather to join him. It had been two and a half years since they last met. Suresh had always been close to both Damodaran and Mallika. With a gentle smile, Damodaran picked up the phone and called his daughter, Ramya. “Tell Suresh I’ll be there at 9 sharp,” he said. His son-in-law, Shravan, was also delighted that Damodaran had agreed to come. They always enjoyed long, thoughtful conversations. Damodaran and Mallika lived in JP Nagar, while Ramya stayed in Jayanagar. The restaurant was conveniently located between both places. The next morning, as the couple stood waiting for a cab, a car suddenly stopped in front of their house. To Damodaran’s surprise, it was his old friend Vinod and his wife, Renuka. “Hey, Dam! We came in yesterday from Coimbatore to visit our daughter. Shubha and our grandson Rakesh are here. Rakesh is working in the same company in Dubai as your grandson Suresh!” Vinod explained, delighted. Rakesh had informed Shubha about Vinod’s visit, and she had invited both Vinod and Renuka to the same buffet. At the restaurant, everyone gathered and warmly greeted each other. Suresh came running to hug his grandparents and receive their blessings. He extended the same affection to Vinod and Renuka. After enjoying a wide variety of dishes and desserts, the atmosphere was filled with joy and conversation. Ramya then invited all the grandparents to her home for some more time together. Vinod had another engagement and had to leave, but he promised to visit Damodaran again soon, as Rakesh would be in town for another twenty days. Damodaran and Mallika spent two lovely hours at Ramya’s home with Shravan and Suresh. Later, Suresh dropped them back home. Before departing, Damodaran leaned in and whispered to Suresh, “Because of your invite, I met my buddy Vinod after ten years.” He hugged him gently and added, “You are a good-hearted person, my boy. You bring people together.” Mallika nodded in agreement. “Very true.” K.Ragavan 21-7-25