Mia was thrilled when her mother landed a job as a librarian in a small hill station. When she saw the library, her joy knew no bounds. It was an imposing building that stood facing the road. The reading room stood on the first floor. The room below road level housed the books. It was a fascinating place for Mia. There were rows and rows of shelves with hardbound books on them. Mia and her mother lived in a small cottage next to the library. Every day, when Mia got back from school, she went over to the library and read.
One evening, her mother said, “Mia, don’t come to the library this evening because we are having a committee meeting. Sit at home. I might be late but I have asked Teresa akka to sit with you.” Teresa was the lady who worked for them.
At midnight
But, when Mia finished her homework, she was restless. She wanted to go to the library. She told Teresa that she was sitting in her room and quietly sneaked out and went into the library. She heard the hum of voices from the meeting room. She tiptoed down the stairs, found a book, and crept up to her favourite corner beside the window.
She was so engrossed in her book that that she did not realise how late it was. The town clock in the market struck the midnight hour. Mia was beginning to get sleepy. She looked out of the window and found that it was pitch dark. An owl hooted close by. She shivered and stood up. Just then she heard the sound of whispering. She could not make out the words. All she could hear was “sh sshhhppssss hsssss…”
She was scared. She did not know what to do. Then the whispering came closer to her. Forgetting her fear she shouted, “Who’s there?”
Immediately everything went quiet. But after a while, once again the whispering began. This time Mia was bolder. She shouted, “Who’s there? Come out and show yourself.”
She heard a shuffling sound and when she turned around, she saw an old man. He was dressed in a coat and had a muffler round his neck. He wore a tattered hat.
“Who are you?” asked Mia.
“I am the librarian.”
“No, my mother is the librarian.”
“That’s now. But I am the permanent librarian,” the man smiled. Mia shivered. “I love my books and will never be parted from them.”
“I too love books and enjoy spending time here,” said Mia.
“Is that so?”
Mia nodded eagerly.
“Then we need to find a solution to your problem…”
“But I don’t see a problem,” said Mia.
“Oh yes, there is … can’t you see. You have to go to school; you have to go home … all that time you are away from the library.”
The man thought awhile and then said, “Come with me…”
***
Mia’s mother and Teresa searched everywhere for Mia. The cottage, the library, in fact the whole town. But Mia had disappeared without a trace. Well, not without a trace … because they didn’t search the library at night.
Published - January 27, 2025 10:17 am IST
