Her Book Man

Chapter 2

Kabir's pov

I went to check upon her with a hot mug of coffee in my hand. And I smiled after seeing her.

She was surrounded by 15 rom-coms and was playing " akad bakad Bombay boo, assi (80) nabhe(90) pure saw(100)" to select a book.

I leaned against the doorframe, watching her. She was too engrossed in her game to notice me, her index finger darting between the book spines as she recited the rhyme.

"Akad bakad Bombay boo…" she whispered, her voice full of childlike determination.

I chuckled softly, and that was enough to make her turn. Her wide eyes met mine, caught in the act, but she didn’t seem embarrassed.

I talked to her for sometime then asked her.....

"Have you found your next read yet?" I teased, holding up the mug.

She grinned, brushing her hair away from her face. "Almost. But I think the books are conspiring against me—they all want to be chosen!"

"You know there is a concept of borrowing books?" I said

She shook her head.

"Umm, you can issue one book and read then return with minimal cost" I explained

She furrowed her brows, her nose scrunching up in thought. "Wait...so, you're telling me I can borrow a book, read it, and then just...give it back?"

I nodded, amused by her genuine confusion. "Yes, that’s exactly how libraries work, Naina. You don’t have to buy all fifteen books."

She glanced at the pile surrounding her, almost as if she were offended on their behalf. "But...what if I don’t want to give them back? What if I fall in love with them?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Then you buy them. But first, you give them a trial run. Saves you from breaking the bank or hoarding a mountain of books you might never read."

Her eyes lit up, as if I had just shared the secret to the universe. "That’s brilliant! Why didn’t anyone tell me this before?"

I smirked. "Because maybe you never asked? Or maybe you’ve always been too lost in your own little world of books."

She stuck her tongue out at me playfully, then picked up a random book from the pile. "Okay, fine. I’ll borrow one. But if I end up loving it, it’s your fault for making me fall for this whole library concept."

I handed her the mug of coffee and sat down beside her. "Deal. But something tells me you’ll love this idea as much as the books themselves."

She grinned, flipping open the book’s cover, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was small moments like these that made her chaos worth every second.

"Can I borrow pride and prejudice?"she asked

" Yeah, sure" he said....

She picked up the book and ran towards another girl.

"Didi, didi, I am borrowing this" she showed the book and did not let her touch it.

Author's pov

Kabir watched her, his lips curving into an amused smile as she dashed across the room, clutching the book like a prized treasure.

The girl she ran to—whom she entered with-- perhaps—looked up from her phone, eyebrows raised. "Naina, it’s just a book," she said, half-laughing.

The girl she ran to—whom she had entered with, perhaps her sister—looked up from her phone, eyebrows raised. "Naina, it’s just a book," she said, half-laughing.

Naina froze for a moment, her eyes narrowing. Then, without warning, she started stomping her feet on the ground, her frustration bubbling up like a child denied a toy. "It’s not just a book!" she exclaimed, her voice high-pitched and exasperated.

Kabir, still leaning against the doorframe, bit back a laugh. He had never seen anyone so passionately defensive about a book before.

Her companion groaned, rolling her eyes. "Okay, okay, calm down. Why are you always so dramatic about these things?"

Naina shot her a glare. "Because you don’t understand, Didi! Pride and Prejudice isn’t just a book—it’s a masterpiece. It’s about love, respect, and personal growth. It’s...it’s everything!"

The older girl shook her head, clearly used to Naina’s antics, and turned back to her phone with a sigh. "Fine, whatever. Just don’t come crying to me later when you’re stuck reading pages of old-timey English."

Naina huffed, clutching the book even tighter as she spun back to Kabir, her irritation melting into triumph. "She doesn’t get it," she muttered, almost conspiratorially.

Kabir smirked, holding up his mug in a mock toast. "Her loss. But I think you’ve already made your choice, haven’t you?"

Naina nodded vigorously, her earlier frustration replaced with excitement. "Oh, absolutely. This one’s coming home with me. And I’ll prove her wrong—I will understand every word!"

Kabir chuckled, his gaze following her as she marched off to find a quiet corner, her determination radiating like a child on a mission. Even in her chaos, there was something undeniably endearing about Naina.

Her sister chuckled, shaking her head. "Alright, alright. But don’t come crying to me if you can’t understand half the words."

Naina stuck out her tongue, spinning back toward Kabir with a triumphant grin. "See? She doesn’t get it."

Kabir chuckled, leaning casually against the counter. "Not everyone’s lucky enough to have your taste in books."

Her face lit up as she returned to him, waving the book like a trophy. "Thank you for letting me borrow it. I promise to take care of it like it’s my own."

"I don’t doubt that," Kabir said, his tone was warm. "But remember, the real magic isn’t just in reading it. It’s letting it change how you see things."

Naina tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "You mean, like...how  Elizabeth learns to see Darcy differently?"

"Exactly," he said. "And maybe how Darcy learns to let his guard down."

She hugged the book tighter, as if absorbing his words along with the anticipation of the story. "You’re good with words, Kabir. Maybe you should write a book someday."

He laughed, shaking his head. "I think I’ll leave the book-loving to you. For now, just enjoy that one. And remember—it’s okay to fall in love with a fictional character."

"Okay, my bookman, hehehehe" she said

As Naina skipped off to find a cozy reading spot, Kabir watched her go, a warmth spreading through him. She wasn’t just borrowing a book—she was stepping into a world where imagination met reality, where stories shaped lives. And somehow, being part of her little adventure felt like being part of something bigger.

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Hey guyzz! Hope you are enjoying the story. The story might seem a little slow but there is a lot coming ahead. So stay tuned 😊❤️