Unexpected joy in a kid’s storybook

 Sometimes little joys arrive in the most unexpected ways.

During an official trip to Bangalore, I planned to meet a school friend before heading to the airport. She has a seven-year-old son and I wanted to take something for him.

I looked at toys but wasn’t sure what he liked. A friend who has an eight-year-old suggested something simple — books.

That sounded like a good idea.

With his help I picked three books, including one by Sudha Murty and another by Ruskin Bond.

Later that night, before leaving, I casually opened one of the books.

The cover page somehow caught my attention and I started reading.

Soon I found myself completely absorbed in it — almost like a child again. The stories reminded me of my grandmother. She lived far away while I was growing up, so I never really heard many stories from her.

Yet while reading those pages, I strangely felt as if I was listening to her.

The next day my friend arrived a little late at the coffee shop. Surprisingly, I didn’t mind at all.

In fact, the extra time allowed me to almost finish the book.

On the way back, I kept thinking about that small moment.

An unplanned decision.

A children’s book meant for someone else.

A few quiet minutes at a coffee shop.

And yet it brought so much joy and focus.

Sometimes life reminds us that happiness does not always come from big plans or grand events.

Often, it quietly hides inside the simplest things — waiting for us to pause and notice.