Small Story 774.

 Small Story 774

 Three friends,One SuperStar,and Jailor2

Swapna never expected to run into her old friend Smitha at Forum Mall in Bengaluru. The moment she saw her, Swapna exclaimed, “Hey, Smitha! Long time no see! When did you return from Chennai?”

Smitha smiled and replied softly, “My work in Chennai was completed, and I spent nearly two months there. I returned to Bengaluru yesterday and will be joining duty the day after tomorrow.”

“Really? It feels as though we haven’t seen each other for ages!” Swapna said happily.

“I felt exactly the same way,” Smitha replied.

Smitha was a software engineer who frequently travelled abroad for short assignments. This time, she had been working in Chennai and had returned to Bengaluru after completing her assignment.

Both friends lived near each other in the Gubbalala area, in independent houses. They were married and had daughters who were studying medicine at Manipal. Swapna’s husband was a doctor, while Smitha’s husband was an auditor.

Just as the two friends were catching up on old times, they suddenly heard someone calling out excitedly, “Hey, buddies! How are you both?”

It was their mutual friend Shruti, an independent journalist.

“Shruti! What a pleasant surprise!” Swapna and Smitha exclaimed together.

“I’ve just returned from Mumbai after attending a wedding in my husband’s family,” Shruti explained. “I came to Forum Mall to watch the second instalment of my favourite Superstar film in the theatre here.”

“Do you mean the sequel to our Superstar’s film?” Swapna asked excitedly.

“Yes, absolutely! Would you both like to join me?” Shruti asked.

“Of course! We would love to,” Smitha replied enthusiastically.

Shruti then revealed that she had already purchased three tickets. Two of her apartment friends had been unable to join her, so the tickets were available.

Both Swapna and Smitha were delighted. They had actually tried to get tickets online but had been unsuccessful. Meeting Shruti at just the right moment seemed like a stroke of luck!

“The show starts in fifteen minutes,” Shruti said. “Why don’t you both call your husbands and let them know that we’re going to watch the movie together?”

The two friends immediately called their husbands and informed them of their plans. With everything settled, the three friends headed towards the theatre, excited about watching their favourite Superstar on the big screen.

The movie turned out to be a wonderful experience. They thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment, the powerful screen presence of their 75-year-old hero, and his remarkable performance. Even at that age, he continued to captivate his audience with his charisma and energy.

After the movie, the trio visited their favourite restaurant, Adigas, where they enjoyed some delicious tiffin. Before leaving, they also bought a few sweets to take home for their families.

Finally, the three friends said goodbye and went their separate ways, carrying with them the joy of an unexpected reunion, a delightful movie, and some precious moments spent together.

K.Ragavan

25-10-26