The book I fell in love with

The book that I fell in love with was a Tamil novel. It was the first novel that I started with when I was in my 6^th grade.

Quite a big book to start with.

Did I have any interest in reading books/ novels? Nope… none.

Then why did I start with that book? It was because of my mom.

She insisted on reading that book and promised me that I will love it. Then she handed me a hard bound book which felt heavy on my tender little hands. She said there were four more like this. Oh God! Four more!!

I knew how much she loved that book. She collected the pages from a weekly magazine that published this story and bound each volume separately. It was her treasure.

One fine day, I took the heavy first volume and set it down on my lap.

Flip… flip… flip… flip… flip…

I turned through the pages and found some wonderful drawings. I assured myself that it’s going to be good and started reading it.

Author was talking about a man riding a horse. Whoa! He must be the hero. So where is he going??? He is riding his tired horse very slowly enjoying the beauty of a water reservoir. Awesome! Where is he going then? The wave with its foam is a beautiful sight and the hero is travelling grasping all these beauties. Wow! What a description? Now please tell me where he is going. He saw some men and children standing in the water and eating something. God! Enough of the description where is he going? On the banks, the ladies formed circles and were singing and dancing. That’s it. I can’t read it anymore.

Few days passed. It was summer vacation and I had nothing to do. I was thinking about the novel again. Mom loved that book. So I decided to give it another shot. I took the book and placed it on my lap for the second time.

Here he comes on the horse again.

I didn't want to give up too early like last time, so I continued to read. I read a few pages. I felt like the story was moving very slow. I lost interest and closed the book.

School reopened. I was in my 7^th grade. I had forgotten about the novel by this time. Then I saw the same book in school library. It was a small soft bound book.

I borrowed the book and started reading it. This time I made a resolution to myself that I will finish the book no matter what. I started reading with patience and I continued to read. As i read, I was into the book. I was with the characters in the novel and everything was happening around me. I was riding horses, fighting swords, hiding, plotting and I cried when they cried, I laughed when they laughed.

I wasn't just reading it. I started living it.

Finished the first volume in just 2 days and then borrowed the other 4 from library. I finished the whole novel, all 5 volumes in under a month.

I didn't want to keep the book down. I wanted the story to go on and on without an end. Reading this book was one of the most memorable things that happened to me. 

But that’s life, is it not? Everything that begins must end.

I was in love with the novel. How can I let go of it? I couldn't.

I started reading it again. But this time I didn't borrow it from library. I got my mom’s book. The second time, my love for the book grew more. Thus I read it for the third, fourth and fifth time and my love kept growing each time I read the book.

I realized the pleasure in reading and thus I began reading various books. I have read quite a few books so far. But this book always stayed on top of ‘The Books I Love’ list.

Now I am planning on reading it again for the 6^th time.

The book I fell in love with- ‘PONNIYIN SELVAN’ authored by KALKI KRISHNAMURTHY.

Happy Reading!