The Best Little Corner

Lately I love my daily visits to the beautiful library opposite our apartment. I would take my laptop and books and find one of the tables that face the park and work/study till I felt hungry or bored. Initially I started this because at home I was too much in a comfort zone and would always find myself glued to the phone but a change of atmosphere helped me to focus better and be more productive. But now, I enjoy sitting in a line with a bunch of strangers all working, reading or studying.

Sometimes, I steal glances at the girl beside me who would come in early everyday and meticulously go through her colorful highlighted notes. She appeared Asian with beautiful clear skin, narrow eyes and extremely straight silky hair. I love silky , straight hair. Maybe I should get my hair straightened ? Maybe color it a bit? Maybe later!

When my wrist band prompts me to 'Get up & Move' because I have been sitting for long, I would walk around the neatly arranged racks of books, stopping for few minutes at the Fiction, Literature, History , Business & IT sections. This library is sweet & little compared to the huge and sprawling building of the State Library in the City. I have been there only once and it felt a little intimidating. It was so huge you would almost get lost in the collection of books.

Ours also had a playroom for children attached to it and you would always hear children , mothers talking, occasional loud laughs from the women at the book returning counter. But they were never noisy ,always pleasant and not interruptive. People here (women specifically), I have observed, laugh loudly and heartily . In streets, cafes, trams -they would just break out to jovial laughter and I must say it is pleasing to the eyes and ears.

As I strode by the bookshelves, I peek a look the elderly gentleman's screen sitting in the corner. He had a Word document open and was editing 'Employment History'. 'Updating a resume at this age'-I thought. I recall reading about Australia facing a shortage of skilled workforce in the morning paper. The article had opined on accepting more young immigrants to tackle this. It had also received a lot of criticism the next day in the form of 'Letters to Editors' with people suggesting that the system should find more ways to support the experienced and old folks instead.

After a stroll I return back to my seat. The Asian girl is now flipping through her rather thick book. The park opposite to the library would have children playing, adorable little puppies running around and toddlers out on their walks. This was the best sight to look at if you wanted to take a break from your Study Materials or Excel Sheets-the Best Little Corner!