Small Story 509.

Small Story 509. True Entertainment After finishing his morning walk, Ram entered the restaurant at the corner where his group of friends usually met. Seeing him, Basavanna and Shashi greeted him warmly. “100 years and more to you!” they joked. “Just now we were talking about you.” Smiling, Ram asked softly, “What were you discussing?” Basavanna said, “You always invite all our friends to meet at a restaurant and spend time together. Many people do this, but we want to know your real reason.” Ram smiled and replied, “All of our friends here are above 65 and retired, enjoying life in their own style. If I invite everyone to my home, it becomes difficult for me to take proper care of them. My better half is also above 60 and has minor ailments like knee pain and other problems. “When we meet at a restaurant, everyone can choose food according to their health and taste. We can sit comfortably, spend more time together, and freely discuss issues related to our age and life. No one feels burdened, and no one feels tired.” He continued, “Initially, some friends were not in favor of this idea. But now they understand the comfort and joy it brings, and they too are following the same concept.” All the friends agreed that making everyone comfortable by choosing a restaurant was a thoughtful and practical idea. They felt happy and relaxed. Ram concluded with gratitude, “I pray that God remains kind to us and gives us the strength to care for our friends at this stage of life.” Everyone agreed—it was truly a good and novel way of entertaining friends, filled with care, understanding, and friendship. K.Ragavan 2-2-26