Love & Libraries

iii : matilda

Dear Reader,

Congratulations! You have solved two clues in a row. Did you ask a literature nerd for help or are you one yourself? Well, either way. Let's get on with the third day's events.

 The third day was just like it's predecessor. Gloomy weather, outrageous shrieks and shouts stemming from the football field directly below the library floor. What made it all worse was the librarian gently informing me that someone had borrowed the only copy of Jane Eyre available in the library. And hence, my progress on the book was delayed by a day.

Deciding to pick up a shorter book to pass time, I went for Matilda. I had already read the book when I was younger but this book had some sort of magic ingrained with it's words; like The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I always returned to the two children's classics every year for a re-read. It was necessary sometimes for a depressed teenager to be reminded that some good and happiness does exist in this miserable world. It's just that happiness can be very elusive. Especially if you're stuck in math class, with your teacher looming over you and ensuring you're solving the sums.

Please leave me alone, Bharat sir.

Anyways, I was at the library, breezing through Matilda. This time, I was seated next to the seat where the Jock usually sat because the floors were chillier. During monsoon, Pulan is always so very cold and frosty.

When I heard the chair next to me screech as it was dragged back a little, I knew the jock had arrived. But, of course, I didn't pay him any attention. I simply peeked at his book. 

Then, my eyes widened.

He had the copy of Jane Eyre with him.

My eyes then travelled up to his earnest face. I glared at him, surprising him, and returned to Matilda with a ferocity that he had probably never witnessed in his life. 

I received a note hesitantly pushed towards me, after a few moments.

Dear Bookworm, have I done something wrong?

Had he done something wrong? Was he seriously asking me that? 

Dear Jock, yes. You have only just begin your journey of trying to cross over to my species but you have already committed a grave offense, making an enemy out of me.

I pushed the note over to him, with my reply and tried to focus on the words before me. For the first time ever, I felt excitement laced with a little irritation. I simply couldn't concentrate. He slid the note towards me, again

Dear Bookworm, pray tell me my sin. I shall make fast attempts to rectify it.

Dear Jock, you're surprisingly good at speaking formally despite not reading a lot of such books. Your offense is that you've borrowed the only copy of Jane Eyre which I had been reading.

Dear Bookworm, my apologies! I was of the opinion that you were already done with the book. I only picked it up out of pure curiosity about what you were reading. I've watched a lot of downtown abbey and other regency-era movies. Hence, my fluency in this style of English.

Dear Jock, colour me impressed. Also, colour me impatient. I would like my book back.

Dear Bookworm, of course. Let me return it back to the librarian so you can have it.

And with that, the conversation ended there temporarily. He slid out of his seat and sauntered towards the librarian. For the first time, I felt butterflies in my stomach from something other than reading a romance novel.

Butterflies, when you have a crush or you're in love, is a very weird feeling. It makes you feel all feverish and in my case, also made me want to spill my guts. Or maybe that one just stemmed from me being an introvert. Not sure.

When he returned back to his seat, he slid towards me a new note.

Dear Bookworm, please suggest some book recommendations for me. You failed to do so, last time.

Dear Jock, my recommendations will depend on your favorite genres to read.

Dear Bookworm, anything romance or mystery will do.

Dear Jock, in the case of romance, you may try You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle. In the case of mystery, you may pick up And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

Dear Bookworm, your words are my command. I shall get right on it.

I snickered to myself as he disappeared into the aisle in search of the books, while clutching the note. As I mused to myself, the question came on me naturally - Why was this jock suddenly interested in becoming a bookworm?

Just what was his motive? 

Well, I know what his motive was now. You will find out in due time.

Anyways, here's the clue for the next chapter :

Harmony; Ferocity; Acidity; Giddy; Emoji

Weird code, I know.

See you on the next letter,
Savantika.

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a/n : i referenced ariana and olivia all in the same chapter, lol. that was fun. any idea on the clue? hint : observe the pattern of the chapter titles. drop a vote if you liked the chapter and comment your thoughts! happy reading x