Small Story 391

Small Story 391. Departing Meeting A large gathering was held at Ram's home in New York. The occasion was a special one — after spending over two and a half decades in the United States, Ram, now 50, had decided to return to India to start his own venture in his hometown, Bangalore. With vast experience in the IT sector and an impressive record with several global tech giants, Ram felt it was time to give back to his roots. To mark this major transition, he invited his close circle of talented and trusted friends for a farewell tea. His wife, Vasanthy, warmly welcomed the guests and served them tea, sweets, and snacks. Addressing the gathering, she shared that both she and Ram had jointly taken this decision to move back and launch a new startup focused on nurturing talented Indian youth. She also mentioned that their only daughter would stay back in the U.S. to complete her studies and would join them in India next year. The atmosphere was filled with mixed emotions — friends were sad to see Ram go, but at the same time, they admired his courage and vision. They knew that with his leadership, he could create a meaningful brand in India. As the gathering came to a close, Ram’s friend Tripathi leaned in and whispered something surprising — thirty of Ram’s friends had also decided to join him in India soon. Ram was astonished and deeply touched by their decision and the trust they placed in him. He thanked them for their bold step and for believing in a shared dream — to build something of value in their homeland. That evening was not only rich with delicious food, but also unforgettable for the strong sense of purpose and unity it inspired among friends. K.Ragavan 7-10-25