Small Story 501.

Small Story501 501 Bar Buddy – Damodaran’s Encounter Rathinam returned to his native place, Kullapuram near Periyakulam, a fertile and peaceful village close to Madurai, after a gap of five long years. Earlier, he used to visit often, but time had its demands—especially his frequent trips to the United States to visit his daughter settled in Boston. As he walked through familiar streets, memories flooded his mind—childhood days, village life, and above all, his dear friend 501 Damodaran, fondly known in their circle as “501 Bar Buddy.” Damodaran had worked in the Sales division of Tata Products – 501, and during those years, he and Rathinam never missed meeting each other during holidays. Rathinam had served in the Revenue Department and, after retirement, settled in Bengaluru with his daughter. Damodaran, after retiring from Tata, had spent some time at his son’s place in Singapore before finally returning to settle in his native village with his wife, Lakshmi, two years ago. The moment Damodaran saw Rathinam, his face lit up with joy. He greeted him warmly, and Lakshmi too welcomed him with affection. The days that followed were filled with laughter, long conversations, and sweet memories of the past. They enjoyed a hearty lunch together, complete with Rathinam’s favorite sweet—laddu. After spending three wonderful days with his old buddy, Rathinam left for Kodaikanal station. He boarded the train, found his seat, and settled in. As the train slowly began to move, Damodaran leaned closer and whispered with a smile, “I’m still the same old 501 sales executive, my friend.” Rathinam smiled back, carrying with him not just luggage—but a heart full of timeless friendship. K.Ragavan 25-1-26