I wish a truly free life. Away from all the troubles. Away from all the pressure of parents, relatives, peers, teachers. Just free like the birds flying in the open sky

Everyone says to study hard and build your career. They even recommend you to study alone as no one will ever accompany you till the very end. I realized this sentence when I was in the tender age of 6 years. It was the first time I got the first position in my grade school. Before that I had many friends but after that day of result announcement I saw many faces turning away from me. They no longer cared nor wanted to talk to me. I got to know even your friends will leave seeing you getting better than them.

'Well... I am in 10th grade now so no use in indulging in past occurrences.' I mumbled as I was getting ready for school. 'Akira! Come and get your lunch.' My mother called me downstairs. I went to her, got my lunch and stuffed it in my school bag. 'Mum, I will be back in the evening today.' I told her. 'Are you meeting your friends today?' she asked. 'Nah. Just going to stay by the library to study. My Mid-term exams are approaching, right?' I answered her and left house.

As I entered the school, I could see the information board being covered by the inspirational quotes our teachers came up with. "Try you best even if you're failing!!" 'Seriously? Was that the best you could come up with, dear teacher?' I thought as I headed towards my classroom. As always, the chatter of the ambition-less students just gossiping around was loud and clear. I went to my seat, sat and opened my math workbook. I could feel the sharp gazes that were piercing me. Well it must feel like I am abnormal to them to open math workbook as the first thing after coming in the classroom. But I had my own reason of doing so. Those stupid gossiping extras might not know but I overheard the math teacher saying that he will take a surprise test in the first period today. I can't get a low score at all and tarnish my reputation even if it takes me being "abnormal" to those extras.

At 3 pm, after the day got over, I walked out of the school and went straight towards the library. The library was quite vacant in the weekdays with not many people coming there. I took a seat and opened the file where my assignments were kept. I took out my due assignment and started working. By the time I was done it was already 6 o'clock. I thought of looking around the shelves to see if any book piques my interest. And thinking so, I went to the section that contained books related to criminology and psychology. Well it did pique my interest. And i started looking for an interesting book to read.

I spotted one particular book titled "Some books shall never be read" It surely had an interesting title. But who would not read the book after reading such a title. As I was about to take out that book from the shelf-...

As I was about to take out the book titled "Some books shall never be read", the worker that was arranging the books in the next lane came over to me and grabbed my wrist saying that I should not take that book. Out of curiosity, I asked him 'Why can't I read this book?' But he simply took the book away with him. What a crazy person. I looked at the time and realized it's already been around half past 6, and I was supposed to be at home by 7 o'clock which is my normal curfew timings. I took my school bag and rushed out of library and ran towards my home.

Gladly I reached on time. I went to my room, threw my bag and then went to take a shower. Well not soon after my mother called my for dinner, and then I was back in my room. *sigh* 'What a tiresome day'm!' I exclaimed as I lied on the bed. But I had to study even now. So I sat on my desk and opened my book to begin the studying session.

I didn't realise when, but I had fallen asleep already. I could hear bell chimes and a deep voice saying "Never open unknown doors". What does that mean? Is this some kind of horror movie? I woke up and then understood that I just had a funny dream. But unlike normal dreams which are forgotten after sometime into the day , this one was far more vivid and I remembered every single detail in that dream.

What now, I didn't think much of it and proceeded with my normal routine. And today again I would go to library as I needed some peace to my poor mental health. After the school hours, I headed towards library and surprisingly, even though it was Thursday, it was a lot crowded than usual. I later got to know that groups of University students had come there from their projects as nearby cafes were all full. It took me some time to look for an empty seat, but gradually I found one. This seat that I found today, was one that was right next to the aisle where I stood yesterday. I took but my study material and began my work. I was focused on my work but as a suspense story lover I had taken some habits as taken, one of this was always having one eye and ear on my Suddenly ,I heard a chime's sound which was same as the one I heard in my dream. Which wasn't even that weird until I looked around and saw that there was no wind chime hanging on the windows nor there was any on the door. I thought that some student must have it on their bag pack. Well I didn't hear it again nor did I see anyone not touching there bag every once a while.

I let this matter pass as it seemed to trivial compared to my Mid terms. I focused one my work once again and now , from the corner of my eye, I saw the same worker which was telling me not to pick that book was putting the same but over in the shelf.

That book had already gotten me interested. So, I sneaked up to the shelf and took that book out. I sat down on my chair and flipped the first page. It had a cliché opening like other criminology based books had. 'Have you ever wanted to peek into the brain of criminals' I started reading the books ; few pages in, I noticed a weird writing style of the author. This novel felt like it was all practical and I could imagine it all happening inside my head. This had some sort of writing that was just like personally witnessing a killers mind, and it's way of thinking.

 I was so indulged in reading that i didn't even look at the time. At that time I heard the chime sound again and that caused me to snap out of the void that had been created in my mind just by reading those few pages. Then I saw the same worker coming towards this shelf I rushed towards it before the worker reached it and placed it back to where it belonged. Unfortunately, he saw me bear that book just when I placed it there and said to me with fixed gaze that "Do not touch that particular book, please." I nodded my head as if I had not even touched that book. He stood right there till I left the rack. I picked up my backpack and was ready to leave the library and that's when I saw that worker carrying that book again. I don't know why, but it suddenly felt suspicious to me. I have never been warned about not taking any particular book before. If the book is in the library means that it is a book of public interest. But not only was I not allowed to read that book, the worker even carried that book somewhere when clearly it was not for the people.

As I was heading towards my home, I was only thinking about this book. It was so nice! Why didn't they let me read it? Well, the further question I had was why was that book so special. I get it that it was super serious, and actually felt like looking into the killer's mind, but books don't get snatched out of hands like that. Soon I reached home, and I was too tired to think further, and I slept.

The next day I went to school and attended my classes then later went to library as my usual timings. But I decided to go back home late. I entered the library and went to the same seat where I went yesterday and sat down. I had one eye kept on the book shelf and the book was not there. Then only, I heard the chime sound. Soon, that worker brought the book. By this time, I got the idea that that chime had something to do with this book.

It was four o'clock right now and yesterday when I heard the last chime was when I was leaving, at seven o'clock. So I went and picked up the book and started reading again from where I left. Now, the scenes started feeling like actual murder cases. They had very tiny details and the details seemed to be just as if it was from a detective's journal. I read it further and noticed the last page had something written. It read "Second sentence of odd page." Well the book had many odd pages and I didn't think any of it as maybe someone had written it as a note to someone else. 'But it isn't public interest book!' I suddenly remembered.