Small Story 496.

Small Story 496: Mannar and Company – An Old Bond Revisited Narayanappa reached Nyniappanaick Street in the Park Town area of Madras to meet Mannar, the director of the newly started pharmaceutical distribution firm, Mannar and Company. Nearly fifty years earlier, both had worked together as accounts assistants in Dadha and Company for a few years before parting ways. Narayanappa later joined a bank and eventually settled in Mandya, Karnataka. Mannar, however, continued in the same line of business and had recently launched his own enterprise. He had invited Narayanappa to spend a couple of days with him. Mannar’s only daughter had settled in the United States with her family. When Narayanappa reached Mannar and Company, Mannar warmly greeted him. Both men were now in their seventy-fifth year. They spent time reminiscing about their younger days and shared fond memories of their early careers. Later, they went to a nearby restaurant for lunch. After a delicious meal, they returned to Mannar’s office. Mannar explained that his full name was Rangamannar, originally from Srivilliputtur, and that he had started the distribution business under the name Mannar and Company. As Mannar showed Narayanappa around the various departments and finally brought him into his cabin, Narayanappa quietly remarked, “Fifty staff members—this is a good establishment.” Suddenly, Mannar laughed and said, “When I started this company, many of my friends jokingly remembered an old movie scene where the actor claims he is working in ‘Mannar and Company,’ which was actually a lie.” The joke had become popular among his friends. Narayanappa smiled and replied, “Let them think so. Your full name shortened to Mannar and Company sounds perfect.” After spending two pleasant days together, Narayanappa returned to Bengaluru. On reaching home, he softly told his wife Sunanda, “It was a wonderful visit to Mannar and Company,” and both laughed while recalling the famous dialogue of actor Thangavelu from the film Kalyana Parisu, which Mannar’s friends had mentioned during the company’s inauguration. K.Ragavan 20-1-26