Books

Next morning I woke up a little late as it was Saturday, our holiday. Sleepily I went to freshen up. Played some songs after returning. I sang along the lines of 'Cornelia Streets' by Taylor Swift and 'Capital Letters' in movie Fifty Shades Freed while making my bed. These were my current favourites. The lyrics are so good. Today I didn't tie my hair, as I felt traces of yesterday's headache. I wore boat necked quarter sleeved yellow and black striped top and my black knee-length skirt. Going over the desk I saw the poem, folded it and kept in the book. Chatters outside marked the presence of my friends. Everyone came inside still wearing pajamas.

"Oh look sleeping beauty has woken up." Riya said.

"We thought we would have to sprinkle water on you to wake you up." She continued.

"Done with your nonsense?"I said.

"You look good today, is there some occasion?" Avi asked. Before I could say something Trisha chimed in

"We have a meeting in literary club today." That girl, I didn't even think about this. Now they won't stop teasing me about this.

"Oooooh....Now I know" and everyone burst out laughing. I didn't care and wore my glasses.

"Hey, why are you wearing that, where is your contact lenses?" Riya asked.

"Not wearing" I simply packed my bag.

"Take this we brought your breakfast." Riya said taking out some takeout and a cup of coffee.

I ate while they decided to go for shopping. We would go for shopping just after Trisha and I come from our club meeting. I'm not a fan of shopping, yeah I'm a girl and I don't like shopping. It was 10.30 and we had the meeting at 11.

After we bid our goodbye to Riya and Avika we went to Trisha's room as she went to get ready. When we reached, everybody had arrived and we're chatting happily. Mr.President cleared his throat to draw everybody's attention. We were still standing, so he gestured us to sit.

"So now everybody has arrived." He looked at me. I then glanced at the clock it was 11 on the dot. I looked at him, challenging to say anything about me being late. He averted his eyes then.

"First I would like to inform you that Literary Club is going to collaborate with Drama Club to perform a drama. You don't necessarily have to act, there are more positions such as Director, screenwriter, narrator, decorators etc. We know many might have some or other wishes to act, if you want you can grab this opportunity and avail both benefits, participating in a drama while being in the Literary Club." He said genuinely excited. I wonder, what made him write this poem? Will he answer my questions if I ask him? What if he gets offended? I was lost in thoughts when Trisha poked me and I realized everybody's gazes were on me.

"Manya? Daydreaming about acting? Don't worry, I would personally suggest them to have you but please pay attention while I'm speaking, okay?"He said and everybody laughed. I ducked my head feeling utterly embarrassed.

I paid attention to him. He informed that drama isn't decided yet but will be soon. And then we can head outside to talk or sit here to discuss about books. Just as he finished many of them went outside. Trisha and her group went too. He came towards me after picking up his books. It would be great if he doesn't ask to go outside.

"Do you want to go outside or sit here?" He asked.

"Can we sit here?" I asked. He nodded and sat across me.

"So did you read?" He asked

"Yeah I did, it's one of my favourites. I have written personal criticism and my insights. While you speak do you mind if I record it so that I don't have to take notes?" I noticed that he didn't speak. "It would be easier, it's okay if you aren't comfortable."

"No it's fine." He said.

I switched on the recording in my phone.

"So why do you like this book?"

"Paulo Coelho is my favourite author, after I read Alchemist I read this. As the world loves Alchemist I found myself inclined to this book. The simplicity attracted me. The protagonist Veronica had everything she needed but still felt incomplete and helpless . Her life was what it is considered perfect. She tried to commit suicide but was saved. During her stay in Villette she realizes she has only few days left to live and learned to express herself. The freedom to do anything and will to live turned her otherwise boring life into a joyous one. It made me realize various things one of them being there is nothing wrong to be a little crazy. Life is short, we need to embrace this fact and live freely." He stopped while I was stunned. His explanation sounded so good. Our points matched so well.

"Well, are you going to switch that off?" He asked curiously.

"Huh? Oh yeah." I switched the recorder off.

"Why do you like The fault in our stars?" He asked.

"The book is very close to reality. Hazel Grace, cancer suffering a sixteen year old girl fell in love with seventeen year old boy Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor. The boy tried so hard to become the prince charming to his princess by investing his "Wish" on her biggest wish. Their story hit me hard especially when he told that his cancer was detected in his system again. From the start of the novel the readers thought or assumed that the one to experience such things would be Hazel who's lungs sucks to be lungs. But unexpectedly it ended with Augustus's end. After reading, when I closed the book and glanced at the title it summed their story perfectly." And then my voice broke and tears fell down. As I recalled all the things about Augustus I felt like crying. I never had to give someone reason as to why I liked some book. But when I sat here with him I started crying. I dried my tears with heel of my palm and calmed down.

"Sorry to become a crybaby, and I don't generally cry. But this book was filled with billions of emotions." I said after a while. The whole time he was quiet.

"Hmm it's okay to express. As I told my book taught me to live freely. Do you want water?" He asked.

"Yeah." He nodded and went to bring water from the dispenser. I calmed down alot as I drank some water.

"You know the last time I cried like you when I got hit playing volleyball, it landed right on my face." He said and I laughed at that imagining his face. He is nice.

"But I was twelve." He said. I take that back he isn't nice at all.

He read my expression and said

"I didn't play volleyball after that you know, and hence basketball, if it makes you feel any better."

"Much better, I cried but yes I'll read this book again." He chuckled at this.

"Oh wait yes" I took out the book, opened up and handed the paper to him.

"Is this yours?" I asked.

He opened and read, I took in all the expression he made. At first it was curiosity and then sadness.

"Yeah, I wrote this when I was going to give my entrance exam of this college, after that I read this book." He pointed at the book in my hand.

"It was truly good. I loved it." I said sincerely. I got half the answer while listening to his answer about the book.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked.

"Yup, ask away." He said putting the paper neatly in between his notebook.

"Why do you have that place reserved?"

"When I joined the college I didn't live in dorms as I'm a resident here and didn't like to go my home early at all so I used to sit in the library studying all day and evening after classes. Partying wasn't my thing so I didn't go out. That library assistant Sourav complained about me to the librarian and she did to the director. The director called me and provided me this opportunity to sit in the library in one place where no one would sit, and few extra hours as I would be the last one to lock the library in exchange to play on behalf of college. Yup, basketball, it was good in highschool but I didn't want to continue but my certificates attracted the director and he told me to do it. Besides, now I use to review things on that table with members of Literary Club. And I like to play basketball here, the players are great. It was a win-win situation for me." He explained very peacefully. I wanted to ask more but I controlled.

"You are inquisitive, aren't you? So miss Manya should we talk about the role you want to play in the drama?" Drama? Which drama? He is just too much he is teasing me even now.

"One last question. Please don't get mad." I said

"What is your Full name?" I wanted to ask his name as I can't recall but I used different method, aren't I smart.

"Vihaan Kashyap." He answered casually and I repeated in my mind "Vihaan".

My phone rang and Avika's name flashed.

"Where are you?" She almost yelled and I placed the phone away from my ear.

"I'll be coming in few minutes." I spoke.

"Okay." And she hung up.

"Do you have to go somewhere?"

"Uh, yeah we had plan to go for shopping, why?" I asked.

"No, nothing." He said but I guess he had to say something. I gave him his book.

"I returned the book to the library on your behalf."

I glanced at the time it was 1 pm. Standing up I bent and collected my things and when I turned, I knocked into him as he was reaching towards my paper cup. He held and steadied me again. We bent together to gather my things which fell down and I said "Thank you" while standing up. To which we both laughed out.