Crush @ Library
There I am in the central library, that’s what you do when you are an avid reader. Checking all the books shelved there and in the tangle of picking the book. Are you going to keep that? I heard from behind when I was holding my all time favorite THE ALCHEMIST by PAULO COELHO.
And I turned to see behind and there she was with a sparkle in her eyes and her look as appealing as her soft voice. I felt as if the world became still and my heart skipped a bit.
Hello there, are you going to keep it? She asked waving her hand in front of my still face
Han? Well No, not really. I said trying not to look lost in my own thoughts. Do you want it? I added further
Well yes, if you’re not going to keep it she answered
Here you go; I have read it couple of times I said to her while handing over the book. So do you read very often or? I mean do you come here very often? I added further and realized how dumb I must have sounded
Not really, she said
Generally do you speak so little or there is something special today. I said with a little smile on my face trying to look funny and not dumb
It’s just the second time I am visiting the library and I am not much of a reader either, I took membership because a friend insisted she responded giggling
Finally she giggled that’s a good sign I thought,
And What about you she asked
Han? I? Generally I don’t have much to do on weekends so rather than spending my day sitting on my bed and watching the Lizards cross the walls, I prefer to come to the library I said and smiled.
And she laughed a real hard,
I have been wanting to complete this book which I started long ago and due to deadline I had to submit the book back. But I did not really think this book will still be here she said
Well, if what you find is of pure matter you can always find it when you return unless it was just a moment of light like the explosion of the star I quoted a line from the alchemist
Are you trying to impress me here using the quotes from the book, she said
Finally you are impressed at least I said realizing she is already done reading that part of the book
Did you not hear the word try? She said and looked away towards the shelf and start looking for another book
I am varun btw I said when I realized I did not even know her name yet.
Well, pleasure bump into you varun she said and giggled
May I know yours? I asked
Well besides what you quoted this book also says when you want something from all of your heart the world conspires in help you to achieve it. So if you really want to know my name you’ll figure out a way I guess she said
But it also talks about omens. Give me a hint at least or you could give a hint at coffee shop today in the evening. I asked smilingly
Well, I am sorry to say but you are going to have to spend the evening looking at the lizards crossing the walls unless you decide to stay at library until the evening. She said turning her back towards me to look at another shelf
I guess I would prefer looking at you rather than Lizards I said trying to look as funny as possible
Your sense of humor is terrible, try this she said handing me THREE MEN IN A BOAT by JEROME KLAPKA and left
What about the omens, I mean hints I said as she begun to go
That is your thing to figure out she responded without turning back
And there I was standing with the book she handed over
**********************
So here I am at Sunday morning thinking about why I got this book issued despite it being not from the genre I like, I thought. Probably because she handed it and suggested to give it a try I said to myself. Though it was hardly a conversation of five minutes but I could not get her out of my head and all I could see was her whenever I looked at the book she gave. And finally today I decided to read it. With the thoughts of her I opened the book and I was surprised to see a name and a phone number on the first page itself, it said Shonali Verma 98798 *****
For a moment I hazed thinking it must be her who wrote it then another thought came was plenty of people borrow books from the library it could be anyone. But there was inner me who wanted it to be her.
And I jumped from the bed towards my phone and dialed the number hoping it to be hers
Hello, I heard after it rang twice. it’s her I thought but I had to confirm
Hello mam, I am speaking from dinner bell restaurant there is a table for two booked for you this evening are you free? I said
Yes, I am free but you did not tell me you work at the restaurant Varun, she responded
Bingo it’s her I jumped again, this time with happiness. Thank god it’s you I said to her
Indeed but it took you all six days to figure it out she said and you booked the table what if it was not me she added further
There is no table booked I was just checking it’s you I said and laughed
Ahhan! That’s all she said and took a pause
So this evening up for a coffee I asked
Is it a date she asked
It’s upto you, i replied
How about we meet and decide it later she said
Great so CCD near st. xaviers at 5 o’clock I asked
Sounds like fun she responded
Great then see you there, bye I said
Bbye she said and hung up
*********************END*****************
This story is a fiction and purely based on my imagination
Personnel details of writer
RIYASAD KADIVAR
97248 00644
