Kartik's POV

"You love to read, huh?" I said, walking behind Myra as we entered the library.

I rarely visited a library. For me, it was like a nightmare to be surrounded by utter silence and thousands of books.

"Who doesn't?" Myra counter-questioned, giving a book to the librarian. The title read, 'Looking for Alaska by John Green'.

"That's a good one. I read it a few months back. I just didn't like the end."

She thanked the librarian and walked further. I leaned on one of the shelves she was browsing.

"Sometimes the end is not what we want it to be, Mr. Arora," Myra said, moving her fingers on the books.

She smiled at me and picked out a book, reading the back cover.

I let out a laugh. No arguing with her.

"What else do you like, besides books?"

We have known each other for just a few hours, and here I am, following her around like a dog, asking her about herself, with my heart skipping a beat every time she smiles at me.

Kabir would laugh in my face if he found out about this.

"Well. . .  I like to watch movies and spend time with my friends," she said.

"Me too. But, the problem is you see, I have very few friends." I admitted.

She nodded. I turned towards the shelf, humouring myself to find a book that I would read.

"Would you like to be my friend, Kartik?"

I couldn't believe she'd just said that. "Are you serious?" I asked.

"Yes," she came closer to me, and I, for the first time in my bloody mortal life, took a step back. "Do you wanna be my friend?"

"Ye-yes, yes, absolutely. I would love to."

"Good." She pulled a book from the shelf I was standing near and handed it to me. "I think you might like this."

She walked passed me, holding two books herself.

"Hey, can I get your number?"

"Read your book, Mr. Arora." She said without turning back.

I looked at the book and scoffed. This girl is something else.

Send Nudes by Saba Sams.

I flicked the pages and a card fell. It was Myra's card. With her phone number.

I ran after her to the librarian's desk. She was politely holding a conversation with the old librarian. Ms. Zara D'Souza, the nameplate at the counter read.

"It's been a while since I saw you, my dear. How have you been? Is the work keeping you busy?" The lady asked while issuing Myra's books.

"Yes, the workload has been crazy lately, with an event coming up and all. Can't even have a good night's sleep." Myra replied.

"Well, you should take care of your health, sweetheart--" the lady paused, squinted her eyes and leaned just a bit forward. "I have never seen you here before."

Myra turned to find me awkwardly standing behind her. She pulled me forward by my arm.

"He came with me." She said.

I kept the book Myra gave me on her desk with my driver's license. "I would like to join."

The lady tried to get a look at me. "It's good to see young people back in libraries." She said, looking between me and Myra. "Whatever the reason might be."

"Okay, then," Myra scurried and picked up the books and my license. "I'll see you in fifteen days, Zara. Goodbye."

We exited the library. We stayed silent until we reached where her car was parked.

The weather had cooled down a bit. The library being away from the main road reduced the traffic noises so much that I felt I should stay here longer.

"Here you go." She handed me the book and the license.

"Can I ask you something?" I said.

"Yeah, go on."

"Why do you have a library, why not a bookstore? I mean, you are rich enough that you can afford to buy them."

She opened her backseat door and kept her books inside.

"I know, I could buy books from a store, but there's something about the atmosphere of a library, the thrill of discovery, and the sense of belonging." She said. "You see familiar faces, exchange knowing nods with other book lovers, maybe strike up a conversation about a book you both love."

She spoke like an old soul trapped in a young person's body, where the love for calm places and words of escape were the only things that brought her joy.

"Have you..." I cleared my throat, drumming my fingers on her car's bonnet. "Have you struck up a conversation with another fellow booklover?"

"No, not really." She said, biting away her smile. "But other fellow book lovers have."

"Oh, that's-that's... nice." Why couldn't my hobbies include reading books and visiting libraries? "So have you gone out with any of them?"

"No," she said, moving closer, the backseat door between us. "Why do you care? We are just friends."

She knew how to play this game and she was good.

She was staring at my lips, and I swear to god I should have gotten a bloody medal for holding myself back.

I ran my finger on the side of her face, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Yes, we are just friends," I said. "And that is why, I'm going to call you soon and ask you to have dinner with me."

"Great, I'll be waiting."