Sometimes you are simply too late ...

It was a cold night. 

I was sitting in a waiting room. 

My train was 3 hours late.

Time and again I was opening my backpack, taking out something, holding it for a few minutes and then putting it back inside.

"Hi, aap kahan ja rahe ho ?"

Suddenly I turned right and saw a girl sitting beside me. She looked familiar.

"I'm Ritika. I attended your lecture a few months back."

"Yah I remember. That was what I was wondering. I saw you there." [I lied with a broad smile] 

"If you don't mind, can I borrow that book?"

That thing was still in my hand.

"Yah sure."

"How's the book? Have you read it?" - she asked.

"I don't know. I haven't read it." - I sighed.

"Why?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

The book was intact. I had not even turned a single page.

There was something scribbled inside the cover page. She looked at it.

Thankx for making the lib software buddy !!!

from Subhojit

Secy, Hall 5 RR

There was a seal below this text which read Hall 5 Reading Room. 

She was puzzled trying to figure out the crypt.

"Well, its a gift for a dear friend of mine. She once told me that she wanted to read this book. I promised her that I'll get it for her. I couldn't get it online and even searched the entire city but couldn't get a copy back then."

"Oh.." she continued, "Wow, she'll be so happy when you will gift it to her."

"Yup. The day I got it, I asked her if she still wants to read this book. Hoping to give her a surprise."

"And what was her reply.. bataiye toh ?" - I could see the excitement in her eyes.

"Someone already gifted her a copy."

"I was simply too late ... "