Books-My First Love

B

ooks. I have loved books since I was a kid. They always have been my best friend. Went with me through the various countries, slipped past the dunes of time. Who says we can’t travel time, I have been in the centuries that I have liked. They have scared me, taught me love, have betrayed me. Made me sob, unraveled mysteries of the unknown. I still remember the day I held in my hand the first most beautiful book on this earth. I was around 6 years old and was in 2^nd grade. It was our first day in school. We got our time table and voila! Our 3^rd period was of library. 

Labyrinths of unknown and dusty books waiting for us to wipe out the dust and read them to our hearts content. The sacred place where only the big kids could go. That meant I was a big girl too. I felt proud to have grown up to glide away to the library and sit where only the big kids where allowed. I could sense the pride glowing inside me.

I just couldn’t wait to see the mystic library. Bell tolled. The time had come .We were made to fall in line. Noisy kids that we were. Some in line. Some just excited to be outside the class on any pretext. And some like me who were just happy to be finally able to walk the walk towards the alley that leads to the library.

We entered. The library seemed much bigger ‘cos we were much smaller. I got a seat quietly and observed where the books were and when we were going to get them. Other kids were just happy chattering way, but not me. I grew impatient every passing minute. Every minute devoid of the books was pinching my heart. Our teacher told us to write a paragraph on “My school”.

There was no happiness left now in this world … I didn’t have watch then. But time was going to be up any time. But what about my dreams. Did nobody saw the anxiety swirling inside me?

Howsoever, God is always kind. In a carton full of books, there came our teacher distributing us the books. I was so impatient. Why did I have to sit so away from where the teacher was distributing. What if I got nothing and the books got finished and left me. Staring at everybody while they have a gala time reading and mocking me. It would be just so much for me to engulf. I wanted to snatch the books away from everybody. Maybe I had become a devil. The wait had brought the devil inside me. I wanted to wipe out the smile out of every kid.

Just then a brain wave came. I asked madam whether I could fish out a book for myself from another box. Would she understand me and give the privilege. To my immense happiness she said in the affirmative. My hands were shaking. Was this the end of my dreams, would I get what I wanted.

Just then I saw a book withering away in the corner, it seemed as if it was asking for my help. I picked it up and wiped out the dust of its cover. It was titled “The match girl”. Slowly I opened it. It was the most beautiful book I had ever come across. Full of beautiful illustrations and some words that I didn’t even understand. I was basking in my own happiness. My golden book and the golden words- it somehow made me complete. I had found my best friend. The moment is what I still cherish now. The beauty made my eyes water. It was mine. I found it when nobody cared. The girl with the big eyes had bagged my interest. I saw myself in her.

Suddenly my trance broke and one of my friend shouted, “Hey! Look what she has found. Let’s go and have look”. My heart skipped a beat. They were coming to come between us and take this book away from me.They always do. what else could be done? They came, they shrieked, they snatched and I was left alone with the empty dusty carton with me.

Everybody pouring over the book with the girl with big eyes. And me sulking away in a corner. I endeavored that now I would always run towards the library and always get this book and hide it for the next time and would read it all. From that day onwards that book became somewhat of a royalty with us kids fighting to get hold of it. Since that day onwards, I have been an ardent lover of books and still I am.