A Lifelong Love.

Reading has always been a cornerstone of my life. My journey began with me going to Tau G ke Ghar, from where I borrowed books like Panchtantra, a famous collection of Indian fables and other children’s story collections, as well as various pulp magazines and murder mysteries (based on real events, of course) from here and there.I saw them as simple fun stories. These early reads rooted my love for storytelling. Controversial, right? I still have some with me. I also remember saving up money to buy Premchand’s short story collection when I was in seventh grade, making it even more special to me.

I remember asking Appa to buy me books in June, so I could read all the stories during the summer holidays before the new school year began. Maybe that's why I always did well in those subjects without much effort—because Interest was genuine. I also remember visiting a local library during one of my Nainital visits, again in 7th grade. It was the highlight of the trip for me, and I knew books made me happy like nothing else. Seeing a set of books feels like a child seeing ice cream and chocolates altogether; it brings me joy. I feel a sense of camaraderie when I see people reading.

My passion for books is so evident that it shapes my expectations for gifts. If you know me well, you understand that a book is always the right choice. I feel frustrated if the answer isn't a book. I love how I am constantly thinking about book festivals, fairs, and nearby libraries that I can’t always afford to visit, and how my mind keeps track of hundreds of books that I want to buy, only for me to end up buying completely off-the-list books. Maybe this is why I want to pursue a master's degree in the field and led me to pursue a bachelor's degree in English Literature. Crazy.

A cute memorable moment in my reading journey is one of my very first dates spent at a bookstore in Agra. We ditched the idea of visiting the Taj Mahal, traveling 60km just to visit a bookstore. It perfectly captured my love for books and his love for me. We bought a book even though we knew we were paying more than the online price, but I wanted to own it anyway. I also remember Appa buying me The Discovery of India for some 600 rupees. It would have cost less online, but there it was in front of my eyes. He knew how passionate I am about books and didn't hesitate for a moment.

Writing has also been a significant part of my journey. I used to write poetry and stories and even crafted a travelogue inspired by Amrit Lal Vegad when I was in 7th grade. That was my peak time, I guess... Hahaha. I look forward to going back into writing in the future. Maybe that's why I started reading even more passionately? Who knows. This constant desire to add new books to my collection keeps my passion for reading alive and strong as ever.

So far, I have collected more than 60 books, which consist of some Hindi literature, some English, various genres, classics, biographies, autobiographies, story collections, and some random finds. I remember once Appa proudly putting this story in his WhatsApp status as "My Little Library," and I teasingly corrected him with a smile, "No, it's not your library, it's mine."