Список для читання

Even after all her reading, all her snooping, she wasn’t sure she was any closer to the person who had written it, but she was enjoying the journey. She’d appreciated reading again – before the list, it had been so long since she’d sat down and just allowed herself to get lost in a book. Life felt too busy, it had felt like an indulgence she couldn’t afford.
But the list had given her so much – she enjoyed speaking to people here, and in this new city, where life never seemed to stand still, it had given her a place just to be.

Hi Dad,’ Deepali said. ‘I … I was just popping in to say hi. But … I should have called, I, er, didn’t realize you’d have company. I’d better go.’
‘Goodbye, Nilakshimasi. Nice to see you,’ she said, turning to Nilakshi once more.
Before Mukesh could get to the doorstep, Deepali was already in her car, the engine started, ready to go.
The excitement from his conversation with Aleisha had vanished completely. He watched his daughter drive away as Nilakshi clamped a hand on his shoulder. ‘Mukesh, we are just friends. We both know this, your daughters – of course they’ll understand.’
But Mukesh knew they wouldn’t. He had disappointed them – he had seen Deepali’s face drop. Speaking to Aleisha might have made Mrs Danvers disappear, but Deepali had brought her flying back again and Naina was nowhere to be seen, felt or heard.

Yes, yes, you are right. Well, then that is a little flavour.’ He moved onto the next one: Rebecca. He began describing the book by going ‘Ooo,’ in what he hoped was an atmospheric, spooky way, but actually he sounded like an old grandfather with some joint pain.

‘Are you okay, Dada? Do you want to sit on this seat, it has more padding?’ Priya stood up and pointed to the cushion underneath her.

‘Na, beta, it’s okay, I am okay, just a little twinge,’ he said, embarrassed. ‘Where was I? … Oh, yes. Do you remember your summer holidays to Cornwall?’

‘Yes, Dada, of course.’

‘Well, you know all those cliffs, the rough waves.’

‘Yes, Dada.’

‘Well, imagine a large house not far from there, and a ghost of a woman walking the halls … that’s how Rebecca really builds the atmosphere, spooky, and eerie, and I think the landscape is a person in itself! I don’t know if it really is Cornwall in the book, but it sounds like it. Did Cornwall ever feel like that to you?’

For a split second, Mukesh was watching himself – and he couldn’t quite believe it. He was discussing books as if he knew what he was talking about. He sounded like an English teacher, maybe even a librarian. He felt

The two of them stopped as they entered the bookshop, their eyes caught by the books in the windows – a whole scene was captured on the glass itself, a sea and an orange-pink sunset showcasing books, all different sizes and colours. The waves, the deep blue of the sea, reminded Mukesh of Pi, his ocean, his lifeboat and his tiger.
‘Wow!’ Priya gasped, quietly. She quickly shook off her awe, trying to play it cool. Mukesh felt the same. He’d seen books now, but the library was sparse compared to this. Shelves and shelves. Floors and floors. Tables and tables. Piles and piles of books. It was as though they were floating all around him, lifted up by some kind of magic, offering up new worlds, new experiences. It was beautiful.