A Heart Full of Books

Dr Agalya Umapathy

Every year there is one place I visit without fail. A place that makes me feel like a small kid all over again — the book fair. Ever since I was young, my parents took me there and we’ve kept that tradition alive till today. This time, I went with two of my friends. The massive book fair held every year at YMCA, Chennai, feels nothing short of a festival — buzzing with stories, people and quiet joy.

The entrance we went through opened with the food fair, filled with all kinds of tempting varieties. Since my friends and I were determined to visit almost every book stall inside, we recharged ourselves with food first. It was afternoon anyway, so we grabbed some burgers and waffles before entering. The entry was free and the place was huge. No matter how many times I visit, I always find myself fascinated by the sheer scale of the fair. I realized I was smiling from ear to ear, as I looked around the endless genres of books surrounding me. Last time, I bought self-help books — which genuinely helped me a lot. This year, I was set on getting physical copies of my favorite books from the Percy Jackson series. Yes, I became a huge fan of the series last year and this time I finally got the books. I even bonded with one of the girls at the counter over our shared love for the story. It made me realize, it’s not just buying books — it’s about sharing the feeling that comes with them. My friends and I were recommending our favorite books to each other. It is just pure joy to talk about books with people who care. And I won’t lie, seeing the books I wanted priced much cheaper than in regular bookstores, instantly lifted my mood. The entire place was so colorful, with some stalls even decorated with cute paper crafts hanging from above. Just being there made me feel incredibly happy.

Whether it is fiction, literature, anime, fantasy, history or science — you can find everything there. There are books for every age group. Trust me, my friends and I even stopped to gush over children’s story books, with interesting and creative textures. And don’t even get me started on spotting a new edition of the book I already love. I also felt a wave of nostalgia when I came across those little magic books I used to have when I was six or seven. All you had to do was scribble on the page with your pencil until the picture slowly appeared. Moments like this make you realize how deeply you’re tied to memory. Everywhere you turn you are welcomed with more books, and it’s impossible not to stop at every stall. Each aisle stretches on for quite a while, giving you an endless range of choices. The fair runs for more than two weeks every year so you can make more than one trip. I can assure you of one thing — you’ll return home with your heart full, and your ankles sore.

I had my eye on so many books I wanted to come back for later. There’s something incredibly comforting being in a crowd full of people who love books as much as I do. I’ll admit I felt a little envious of the stall owners who could sit and read their favorite books between helping customers and collecting cash. If it were me, I’d happily sit there all day, lost in pages. The gloomy weather outside only added to the magic, making the entire experience feel even more special. To all my lovely readers, who enjoy books and love experiences like this — do check it out. I can assure you, you’ll leave with your heart full and completely content.