I take a deep breath, and slowly step inside. I start walking down the aisle, looking left to
right at all the wonder stowed around me. From my left a strange smell starts to waft,
slowly growing stronger, the smell of freshly dug up soil. Suddenly there's a scent of
lilies coming from my right. Other smells join in, filling up the room, of freshly baked
bread, of a horse stable, of a woman's embrace.
A buzzing sound starts to reverberate around, of raindrops falling on a tin roof. Suddenly
I hear horse taps, rustling wind, roaring waves, and chirping birds. There is noise in all
directions, each sound different, each sound clear. I hear choirs singing in strange
languages. I hear battle horns in a distance. I hear laughter, and I hear shrieks. All
around me, the bookstore has come alive. A thousand stories, a thousand worlds, and a
thousand lives.
....I have been given countless names, of legends, of kings , of forgotten tribal heroes.
Names not from this galaxy, names which the tongue can't comprehend. Names uttered as
the last word from lovers dying in my arms, names chanted by a crowd of thousands as I
lead them in battlefield. Names etched on memorial tombstones and names immortal and
unforgotten through ages.....
I have walked across the dessert all alone, sometimes dying of hunger and thirst. I have
lived years marooned on an island, hunting and scavenging. I have crossed countries
overnight, riding my horses across mountains. I have navigated submarines inside oceans,
and I have sailed ships across them. I have ridden the backs of dragons, and I have flown in
the centre of tornados. I have reached the bottom of a volcano and I have reached the
centre of the earth. I have circled the world in 80 days and I have crossed the galaxy and
returned.
Today there is an extraordinary rush in the metro. People are pushing each other to gain
whatever space they can. Some are shouting in frustration, some complaining in pain,
others just chatting around. I am standing with my back resting on a steel pole, my eyes
staring into nothing. I look ahead, into another world, my thoughts still lost in the
aftereffects of the book I finished yesterday. Stations are passing, people boarding and
de-boarding. My back is pressed into the pole, my legs stepped on by someone. But I
don't register anything. A sudden announcement jolts me awake, my station has
arrived.
.....I have a had a hundred wives, a thousand lovers, a million followers. Women have
flocked around me, desperate to lay their hands on me. Woman have cursed me for a
lifetime, poisoning me in my sleep. I have loved the fairest angel, and I have loved Satan's
own wife. I have bedded queens in their bedrooms, and I have deflowered maidens in their
dreams. I have made love beside burning forests, I have made love around dead soldiers. I
have killed innocents to win my love, and I have died together with her in my arms....
I am walking on the sidewalk, my legs moving by themselves, knowing and yet not
knowing where they are going.. Beside me vehicles are passing, but to me they are giant
birds swooping around over the ocean. The concrete sidewalk turns into earthen road
stretching deep into the forest. The bag on my shoulder feels like an arsenal, as I move
stealthily with my bow ready to shoot. The honking of the vehicles seem like shouts
from the animals. There may be something lurking beside every corner, a paan shop, an
auto or a tiger.
....I am the sliest thief, the smoothest liar. The most cunning pirate, the most valiant fighter. I
have dried the ocean through sorcery, and I have drowned kingdoms through magic . I
have saved the world from the jaws of destruction, and I have seen it demolished in front of
my eyes. I have raised families , and burned villages. I have brought down castles, and I
have overturned kingdoms. I have been hanged, I have been shot, I have been hacked to
death and I have been burned alive.....
I walk into the park, and find a secluded bench, wet because of the rain an hour ago.
There are kids playing around, creating all kinds of ruckus. People are taking their
evening walks. There is a group of old people doing laughter therapy. I breathe out,
relaxing, open my bag and bring out the new book. I take it in my lap, pause for a while,
and open the first page. A splash of winds blows on my face, rustling my hair. My eyes
widen in anticipation as I stare into the open portal In front of me. Once again I take a
deep breath, and dive in.
right at all the wonder stowed around me. From my left a strange smell starts to waft,
slowly growing stronger, the smell of freshly dug up soil. Suddenly there's a scent of
lilies coming from my right. Other smells join in, filling up the room, of freshly baked
bread, of a horse stable, of a woman's embrace.
A buzzing sound starts to reverberate around, of raindrops falling on a tin roof. Suddenly
I hear horse taps, rustling wind, roaring waves, and chirping birds. There is noise in all
directions, each sound different, each sound clear. I hear choirs singing in strange
languages. I hear battle horns in a distance. I hear laughter, and I hear shrieks. All
around me, the bookstore has come alive. A thousand stories, a thousand worlds, and a
thousand lives.
....I have been given countless names, of legends, of kings , of forgotten tribal heroes.
Names not from this galaxy, names which the tongue can't comprehend. Names uttered as
the last word from lovers dying in my arms, names chanted by a crowd of thousands as I
lead them in battlefield. Names etched on memorial tombstones and names immortal and
unforgotten through ages.....
I have walked across the dessert all alone, sometimes dying of hunger and thirst. I have
lived years marooned on an island, hunting and scavenging. I have crossed countries
overnight, riding my horses across mountains. I have navigated submarines inside oceans,
and I have sailed ships across them. I have ridden the backs of dragons, and I have flown in
the centre of tornados. I have reached the bottom of a volcano and I have reached the
centre of the earth. I have circled the world in 80 days and I have crossed the galaxy and
returned.
Today there is an extraordinary rush in the metro. People are pushing each other to gain
whatever space they can. Some are shouting in frustration, some complaining in pain,
others just chatting around. I am standing with my back resting on a steel pole, my eyes
staring into nothing. I look ahead, into another world, my thoughts still lost in the
aftereffects of the book I finished yesterday. Stations are passing, people boarding and
de-boarding. My back is pressed into the pole, my legs stepped on by someone. But I
don't register anything. A sudden announcement jolts me awake, my station has
arrived.
.....I have a had a hundred wives, a thousand lovers, a million followers. Women have
flocked around me, desperate to lay their hands on me. Woman have cursed me for a
lifetime, poisoning me in my sleep. I have loved the fairest angel, and I have loved Satan's
own wife. I have bedded queens in their bedrooms, and I have deflowered maidens in their
dreams. I have made love beside burning forests, I have made love around dead soldiers. I
have killed innocents to win my love, and I have died together with her in my arms....
I am walking on the sidewalk, my legs moving by themselves, knowing and yet not
knowing where they are going.. Beside me vehicles are passing, but to me they are giant
birds swooping around over the ocean. The concrete sidewalk turns into earthen road
stretching deep into the forest. The bag on my shoulder feels like an arsenal, as I move
stealthily with my bow ready to shoot. The honking of the vehicles seem like shouts
from the animals. There may be something lurking beside every corner, a paan shop, an
auto or a tiger.
....I am the sliest thief, the smoothest liar. The most cunning pirate, the most valiant fighter. I
have dried the ocean through sorcery, and I have drowned kingdoms through magic . I
have saved the world from the jaws of destruction, and I have seen it demolished in front of
my eyes. I have raised families , and burned villages. I have brought down castles, and I
have overturned kingdoms. I have been hanged, I have been shot, I have been hacked to
death and I have been burned alive.....
I walk into the park, and find a secluded bench, wet because of the rain an hour ago.
There are kids playing around, creating all kinds of ruckus. People are taking their
evening walks. There is a group of old people doing laughter therapy. I breathe out,
relaxing, open my bag and bring out the new book. I take it in my lap, pause for a while,
and open the first page. A splash of winds blows on my face, rustling my hair. My eyes
widen in anticipation as I stare into the open portal In front of me. Once again I take a
deep breath, and dive in.
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