Saturdays were usually our coffee date days. Aarav and I had a little routine—a cozy corner table at our favorite café, where we’d sip our cappuccinos and talk about everything under the sun. It was comforting, familiar. But this weekend, Aarav had something different in mind.
I should’ve known when he picked me up that morning with a mischievous glint in his eye. “No coffee today,” he said, steering us away from our usual route.
“Where are we going?” I asked, trying to read his expression.
“You’ll see,” he replied, his voice playful yet mysterious.
The car wound through streets I didn’t recognize until we stopped in front of a small, ivy-covered building. A faded wooden sign above the door read Chapters & Tales.
My heart fluttered.
“You know how much I love books,” I said, smiling at him.
“That’s why we’re here,” he replied, pulling open the door. A little bell chimed, welcoming us inside.
The store was magical—rows of wooden shelves stretching up to the ceiling, soft lighting that felt like a warm hug, and the faint scent of aged paper and coffee. It was the kind of place where time seemed to stand still.
As I took it all in, Aarav handed me a card. “For you,” he said, a small smile playing on his lips.
I opened it and read: To my favorite storyteller, let’s write our next chapter together.
I looked up at him, my chest swelling with a mix of surprise and affection. “Aarav, this is…”
“Wait,” he interrupted, gently taking my hand. “There’s more.”
He led me to a shelf labeled Staff Favorites and pulled down a book, holding it behind his back like a magician about to perform a trick.
“Guess which one?” he said, grinning.
I laughed, playing along. “Is it a mystery?”
“Close, but no.”
He revealed the book, The Secret Garden. My eyes widened. “You remembered!”
“Of course. You told me it was the first book that made you fall in love with reading,” he said, flipping to the first page. Scribbled there in his neat handwriting was a note: For the girl who sees magic everywhere she looks.
I blinked back tears.
We spent the next hour wandering through the aisles, Aarav pulling books off the shelves and quizzing me about my favorites. Every time he found one he thought I’d love, he scribbled a little note inside the front cover and handed it to the store clerk, who smiled knowingly at me.
One by one, my arms filled with books that felt like little pieces of my soul—stories I had loved, stories I had always wanted to read, and stories I didn’t know I needed.
By the time we were done, Aarav had picked out three books for me. He handed me the bag at the counter, his face glowing with satisfaction.
“Open them when we get home,” he said.
I nodded, feeling like a kid on Christmas morning.
That night, curled up on the couch, I pulled out the first book. Inside The Secret Garden, his note read: Because you remind me of Mary, bringing life and light wherever you go.
The second was The Night Circus, a book I’d mentioned wanting to read for years. His note inside read: Because your imagination turns every moment into magic.
The last one surprised me: Pride and Prejudice. Aarav had always teased me for my love of period dramas.
His note in this one was the longest: Because Elizabeth Bennet reminds me of you—strong, witty, and full of surprises. And because I want to be the Darcy to your Bennet, if you’ll let me.
Tears streamed down my face as I looked up at him. Aarav, sitting next to me, wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
“So,” he asked, his voice soft, “did I pick well?”
“You didn’t just pick well,” I said, my voice catching. “You made me feel seen.”
“Good,” he replied, kissing the top of my head. “Because I don’t just want to be a part of your stories. I want to write them with you.”
That day, in that little bookstore, wasn’t just a date. It was a story in itself—a chapter that I’d carry with me forever.
Final Words
Moments like these, small yet profound, are what truly make life complete and beautiful. They remind us that the magic is in the details—the thoughtful gestures, the quiet understanding, and the love that’s expressed in the simplest of ways. It’s in the shared smiles, the unspoken connections, and the stories we create together. These are the moments that turn an ordinary day into something unforgettable, filling our hearts with warmth and reminding us that love isn’t just about the grand gestures, but about the little things that make life extraordinary.
Want to read a bit more? Find some more of my writings here-
The Post-It Proposal- True Love Story
The Playlist of Us- Short Love Story
The Surprise Starry Picnic- Real Love Story
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