Small Story 400.

Small Story 400 The 400th Play Mukund never expected to get a call from his old colleague Ananth after so many years. “Hey buddy! How are you? Long time!” came the familiar voice. Mukund smiled. “Ananth! What a surprise!” Ananth continued, “Tomorrow I’m coming to Garden City with my wife Shubha.” “Oh? What’s the reason?” asked Mukund curiously. “Suspense! I’ll tell you tomorrow,” Ananth chuckled and hung up. Mukund and Ananth had worked together in BSNL for thirty years before settling in different cities. Now both were in their 70s, active and spending their time meaningfully. Each had a son settled in Australia, andAnanth and Shubha lived in Chennai. Mukund’s wife, Vasanthy, was delighted at the news — she hadn’t seen Shubha in over five years. The next day, Ananth and Shubha arrived with Mukund’s favourite sweets and snacks, lovingly prepared by Shubha. After a delicious lunch and reliving old memories, they all took some rest. Mukund didn’t press Ananth for the reason behind his visit. At 5 p.m., over evening tea, Ananth finally shared, “Mukund, even though cinema has taken over and stage plays are slowly fading, my passion for theatre has never died. In fact, I’ve been keeping track of every stage play I’ve attended. From R.S. Manohar and K. Balachander to Mouli, Y.G. Parthasarathy, Madurai Thirumaran, Y.G. Mahendran, and even some brilliant Kannada plays — I’ve watched 399 performances over the decades.” He paused, eyes gleaming with excitement. “And now, for my 400th, I’ve booked seats for Parva, the epic play directed by the versatile Prakash Belawadi. I want you to come with us tomorrow.” Mukund smiled. “That’s wonderful news! What a journey! But tomorrow, I have to attend my brother-in-law’s 80th birthday celebration — it’s a family gathering we can’t miss. Still, I’m so happy that you’re reaching your 400th play milestone right here in Bengaluru, the very city where you started your career. What an amazing full-circle moment!” They all agreed it was a special occasion — for both the birthday and the theatre milestone. The next day, the friends went their separate ways. That evening, they met again, sharing stories from their respective events. Two days later, Ananth and Shubha left, hearts full — grateful for friendship, nostalgia, and the unforgettable memory of Ananth’s 400th stage play: the mighty Parva. K.Ragavan 16-10-25