OS: Kitani Mohabbat Hai...

The library was considered by many students a cage.

A cage in which they were forced to take refuge for entire afternoons to study while outside the large windows that lit the room, the sun peeked as to want to mock them.
For others, however, the library was a kind of sacred place, where the smell of old books was a kind of aphrodisiac which they could not do without.

Among them, there was also Ari.

Bend on her books, her hair tied back in a chignon and some white sheets in front of her, stood Ari Alhuwalia, Student model in the first year of medicine and surgery at Delhi University.
Ari spent entire afternoons in the library, but she considered it her second home.

Sometimes, when she did not have to study for some tests, she sat in the large desk occupied only by a poor light green and you read a book she had found by chance within the maze, or that someone had forgotten to put in place, immersing herself in a different reality, a reality much better than real life, a reality where she was thousands of miles away from home and her family, a world where only books were part of her life. A better reality.

Sometimes, as on that evening of December, she lost track of time on many occasions and found herself running to lose breath hoping that Mr. Raina, the librarian, had not yet gone away.

Mr. Raina was old man in his seventies who had taught at a university in Mumbai.

He always had a smile and was always friendly with the students who came at the library that had become his library.

Ari had stopped many nights, when the library was almost deserted, and chat with that nice man who offered her a cup of tea. He had talked about his world travels, his daughter who worked in Mumbai as a nurse and her granddaughter, Shefali, and how he felt her absence.

Ari regarded him as the grandfather she never met.

--Good evening Ari- greeted kindly Mr. Raina passing near the table where she was studying.

-Oh, good evening Sir, how are you? -

-Osteoarthritis is a beast my child. And I'd better go and make a nice cup of tea, you want one too? ' He asked

-Yes. Thanks-Ari replied smiling.

She was now studying since hours without stopping. In a few days she would have a major test and there were still many pages to study.

She removed her glasses and stretched her arms.

She looked around noticing that many students had left the building at this late hour, to return the warmth in their homes.

While her gaze scoured the whole room her eyes met a head bent over a book a few tables away from her.

She immediately recognized that basket of black hair that she wanted to touch for several days.

The boy was pointing out something about a book taking the cap of the pen between the lips and the forehead was frowning slightly.

The girl smiled. Ari saw him almost every day in the library.

He spent his time at the table to study or read a book, occasionally walking the aisles of the great library.

He always sat at his usual table, one next to the windows and occasionally got lost looking out the window, as if there was something terribly fascinating.

Ari had observed him carefully and she felt somehow attracted to that guy of whom she do not even know the name.

The girl stood looking at him in and with a sigh; she got up to go to put a book on the shelf where she had taken.

She rose silently from her chair and departed into the labyrinth, with little light to illuminate the long corridors.

After introducing the book in its place, she was focused in the fantasy books, a place unknown to her since Ari did not like that very kind of book.

While reading the various titles she stopped suddenly.
Slightly outside there was a book by its cover worn brown.

She took it very gently in her hands as if she could break. With fingers crossed lines hardcover she was studying the drawings that were printed.

-Kitani Mohabbat Hai- she said softly with a smile.

Her favourite book.

It was her grandmother Savita to read for the first time when she was only five years.

She remembered that her grandmother read it to her before going to bed, sitting both in the bed and she listened to the words absorbed by the very sweet lady.

At ten she was literally in love with Arjun Punj.

Many times she had imagined and as many times if she wanted in the role of a princess.

In addition, she was called Ari, as the protagonist of the story, so it felt like in an incredible way linked to the novel.

Ari sat on the green carpet and leaned her back against a shelf while still holding the book in her lap.

She opened it up and began to read in a low voice, just like her grandmother was with her.

Slowly the page scrolls she began to remember the characters to perfection, the beautiful jodi Salil and Purvi, Princess Arohi, daughter of King Hari Prasad and Arjun, a knight who lost his head for her.

While the memories of her childhood re-emerge clearly in her mind a slight weariness took possession of the girl making them close het eyes to fall into the arms of Morpheus...

***

-Ari, darling, it's time to go to bed-grandmother Savita got up from her chair by the fireplace in the small living room and went to her niece who was playing on the carpet along with Pi, their little dog.

"But Grandma, it is just nine! - She complained sticking her lip, hoping to convince her grandmother.

-My child tomorrow you'll have plenty of time to play with Duke, now we go to sleep -grandmother smiled at her taking her arm in a loving little girl who clung to her neck absentmindedly playing with the white hair of the woman let loose on her shoulders.

They climbed the stairs to the upper floor and entered a large bedroom.
Ari hopped over to the bed and hid under the covers by heavy see only two small, sprightly chocolate brown eyes.

Grandma sat on the bed next to the great grand-daughter with a book by its cover, brown hand.

-Yes! Arjun and Arohi! - Exulted the child get comfortable in the cushions to hear her favourite story.

She smiled imagining the sadu knight, feeling close to the bubbly Arohi.

She fell asleep with a smile imagining his Arjun that gently stroked her in his arm ... ...

***

Ari kept her eyes closed but still had the feeling of being touched by something or someone.

When her eyes registered a pair of green eyes with light shades of blue that looked curious, Ari jumped back, slamming the back against the shelf full of books, becoming its head in a fall.

-Ouch! - She complained touching her head which had fallen over a true giant.

The boy smiled at her before picking up the book that was dropped.

Ari looked up from the floor and when she saw the boy who had watched in those days took another step back let out a shout a bit afraid.

-You have a bad habit you know - told the boy picking another book that had fallen not far from them off the shelf.

-Oh ... s-sorry-that is c I did not expect to... But what time is it? ' Ari replied settling the tangled hair and aching all over, getting up from the floor.

-I have just passed the seven- said the boy.

The seven-s-? My God is very late; Mr. Raina is already gone for sure! - She exclaimed terrified eyes wide.

-Oh No. Mr. Raina is still here but he waited when you do not return to your table he was worried- she replied and picked up the book by its cover and put it back in place with a smile.

Ari's cheeks flushed. It was the first time he spoke and she could not help but look at the dark curls and a smile of the boy who was walking beside her.

They reached the table; Ari took her books and her coat and approached the exit.

Mr. Raina, behind his big desk, saw the girl and leaned back in his chair.

-Girl you make me a heart attack! - He told the old man smiling at her.

-I'm m sorry. I fell asleep in the hallway reading a book- she said

Mr. Raina smiled kindly looked at the boy beside her.

Thank goodness, as he has the thought to turn off the lights of some tables.
Ari put on her coat and left the library invested by cold air in December.

-It must have been a really boring book if you've even said to the sleeping- green eyes said watching her.

-Oh No, absolutely no- She said and smiled- It was probably exhaustion. I studied all day-

The two youngsters continued to walk side by side to the snowy streets of Delhi, regardless of not even knowing where they were going.

-What a rude person, I have not even presented, "said the boy suddenly stopping in the middle of the road.

-Arjun. Arjun Singhania, nice to meet you ' he said and shook the girl's hand who was mesmerized by his gaze, and his words. It was all a strange twist of fate, think Ari.

Arjun...Arjun Punj.

-Oh well, you get to laugh! It is an old name I know, but my mother is obsessed with mythological names - said the boy nervously scratching his head.

Arohi smiled at him, nodding her head, still clutching his hand.

-Ari. I mean my name is Arohi-

The two smiled embarrassed by the strange situation.

-I hope that there is no King Karan-Arjun said softly blushing by the girl looked down.

-No King Karan-Ari said smiling as the snow continued to fall incessant overhead while Arjun and Arohi of the twenty-first century met for the first time.