Small Story 510.

Small Story 510 Hassan: A Journey Without Expectations Bhimaiah reached the hotel in Hassan recommended by his friend Somaiah. Though he was from Bengaluru, he had never visited Hassan—the so-called “poor man’s Ooty”—and wanted to explore the town and its surroundings. His wife, a college lecturer, could not accompany him as she was busy with examinations. After enjoying a good breakfast at the hotel, Bhimaiah came out to the reception. To his surprise, he saw his old college friend Menaka sitting there. Both were pleasantly shocked to see each other. “Hey Bhimaiah, how are you?” Menaka exclaimed. “What a pleasant surprise!” Bhimaiah replied. Menaka said she had come for coffee and was waiting for her husband. Her husband, Murali, had been transferred to Hassan the previous year, and they were staying near the park. A few minutes later, Murali joined them, greeted Bhimaiah warmly, and after a short chat, the couple invited him for dinner that evening. In the evening, Bhimaiah visited their home and was warmly welcomed by Menaka and Murali. They shared a delicious homemade dinner, made even sweeter by Bhimaiah’s special halwa. After a memorable evening, he returned to his hotel. The next morning, Murali called Bhimaiah and invited him to join his official trip to Chikkamagalur and Mudigere. Bhimaiah happily accompanied him. They visited both places and stayed at the Government Tourist Guest House, as Murali was an engineer. After two wonderful days of sightseeing—and watching the classic Kannada film Bandhana in Chikkamagalur—Bhimaiah returned to Hassan with Murali. The following day, he visited a few more places in Hassan, especially locations associated with his favorite star Vishnuvardhan and the memorable movie Bandhana. Before leaving, Bhimaiah thanked Menaka and Murali for their warm hospitality and unforgettable companionship. He then returned to Bengaluru. Listening to his experiences, Bhimaiah’s wife smiled and said, “You are always lucky. Even in new places, someone or the other takes such good care of you.” Bhimaiah smiled back and thought to himself—this unexpected visit to Hassan truly proved his life policy: No expectations, only pleasant surprises. K.Ragavan 3-2-26