The Bookstore Under the Banyan Tree🔊

Under the swaying branches of the oldest Banyan in the town, there was a wooden bookstore. The owner's name was Jacob, a man in his late sixties..

Jacob was known for his eccentricities and fascination with books. Everyone in the town knew the bookstore and the old, kind man who ran it. The shop was cluttered with books of all sorts, from romance novels to encyclopedias, ancient to modern.

One day, a young boy named Tom, barely twelve, ran into the bookstore, panting. His eyes roved around in awe, taking in the sight of endless shelves filled with books. Jacob watched the boy, his smile widening as he saw Tom's expression, mirroring his first encounter with a bookstore. 'Quite a sight, isn’t it?' Jacob asked, breaking the silence. Tom nodded, his eyes still scanning the shelves.

The boy made regular visits to the bookstore after that day. He seemed to hold an insatiable curiosity, a yearning for knowledge. And Jacob was more than happy to feed this thirst for learning. Their bond deepened and soon, Tom was treated as a grandson by Jacob, filling a void in the old man's life left by his own grandchildren, who lived far away.

One winter evening, the banyan tree was snapping in the frosty wind, and snow fell softly on the bookstore's wooden roof. Tom toddled into the store, eyes filled with excitement. He had received a shiny silver dollar as a gift, and he was eager to buy a book. As he browsed the rows, he caught sight of a large, well-worn tome titled 'The Book of Mysterious Worlds'

It was an interesting book about fantastical realms filled with mythical creatures, enchanted forests, and flying castles. Tom was enchanted. With the silver dollar clutched in his small fist, he approached Jacob. Seeing the book he chose, Jacob chuckled, reminiscing about his own fascination with fantastical worlds.

Then, he looked at the price and his smile withered a little. The book cost five silver dollars, and Jacob knew the boy only had one.

But Jacob glimpsed at the eagerness in Tom's eyes and made a decision. He closed the tome, placed his palm over the price tag, and said, 'This book is yours for a silver dollar, Tom.' The youngster's eyes lit up, and he handed over his silver dollar.

Jacob kept the book, not to read, but as a memory of Tom. Days turned into weeks, weeks into years, but Tom's love for the store and Jacob never waned. He learned from the old man and the books he read, and with time, his dreams soared beyond the limits of their small town.

Finally, when he turned 18, he left to attend University, armed with knowledge, dreams, and a heart full of gratitude for the old bookstore owner.

Years passed, and Jacob became more frail, but the memory of Tom's bright eyes and shared moments kept him warm. One day, he received a letter. It was an invitation to a book unveiling—all the way from the city. The author's name flooded his heart with nostalgia. It was Tom.

As he held the published book, 'The Book of Mysterious Worlds,' he noticed that the book was dedicated to him, the old man owning a bookstore under a banyan tree, for gifting a realm of dreams, fantasy, and knowledge to a young boy hungry for knowledge.

As tears welled up in his eyes and his heart danced in joy and pride, he knew the boy had indeed flown into the skies, just as he had dreamed, spreading the magic of books, stories, and knowledge.