Till few years back when someone would ask me about my hobby,I would usually go blank.I never had any serious hobby or something I was very interested in. It was not something that would bother me but at times I did felt that I was missing on something. But this was about few years back,now I have developed one hobby for myself. Hobby I am proud of, hobby which makes me happy,hobby that made me a better person and hobby which completes me.

Now when someone asks me how can they develop reading as a hobby or start reading more books,I only say one thing that hobby is something that comes naturally to you specially if we talk about one serious hobby,we cannot select that neither can we decide when to develop it. Some people are able identify that in early age and some people like me identify it late in their life but I strongly believe that everyone do identify them. So if I have to recall how I got introduced to books and how I developed reading into a hobby,here is how I will do it(it was a natural to me ).

I was not a studious student in school,I scored good marks only because of good teachers and the competition within the class.I would never open any of my syllabus books post studying hours and was never be excited about new books like other students do specially during new academic year so there was no point of me developing habit of reading at early age. Neither anyone in my house ever read any novel or books outside of their business interest or syllabus. i did read few story books like secret seven and Gulliver travel in later years of school because they were part of syllabus but never willingly read any till the time I was in 11th class when my ex girlfriend gave me "50 shades of grey", what a great book to start with😂. I honestly liked it but then that book was too much for a School boy who would get excited to a extend that he has to close that book after every 2-3 pages. Thank God she took that book back in a week time and never asked me to read any other book. 

In college I heard a name of  newly published popular book "Half girlfriend", intrigued by the name itself I decided to read a pdf of that book on my 5cm display phone. I half read the "half girlfriend" and then after,I never read or even tried to read a book on my phone. 

My third and a more serious meeting with novels took place in second year of my graduation.I met a girl who was studious and used to talk about life, fictions, perceptions and ofcourse universe. For some reason I was attracted to that girl and wanted to know her more but it was difficult,the things she used to like talking about were all strangers to me but I was also not a guy who will give up. I was really into that girl and wanted to spend more time with her so I decided to learn about things which she was interested in. I told her that I wanted to read a book and if she could suggest a book for me to start with, honestly I had no interest in reading a book,I just wanted more time of conversation. I knew if I am able to read the book she suggested then I will also get the opportunity to discuss it with her and then I might start getting more opportunities to know her. She suggested me the book "The alchemist". I bought that book and for first time read a whole book,read every paragraph twice so that I can absorb all the learning to discuss them in depth with her. I learned about Universe,omen and faith in that book and till this point it is one of my favourite books and Paulo Coelho is my favourite writer. I started believing in Universal power and built a strong faith after that. I was astonished to see how much a book can offer you,how reading 100-200 page book can turn your life upside down.Reading alchemist was a special experience and it will always be a special book for me.

 Universe planned this meeting of me and books 😁

After reading that book,  I was looking forward to discussing it with her. It wasn't like I didn't use to talk to her about anything else before that but yes,I still remember that chat on second floor of my college building and how my objective shifted from having a conversation with her to learning about universe and faith from her. For me at that moment,she was my teacher and I was her student. I wish the book was of 500 pages so I could get even more time with her,I still have memory of that 5year old memory so it certainly was very special. 

After alchemist I picked up my second book then third book then fourth and so on. I used to read each book and then discuss the learnings with her but now the motive was also to learn along with good conversations obviously and in this process I  developed my first and I think the only serious hobby till that.

Now I have read quite a many books, now I read them to learn from them, to find my escape in them,to review them, to find practical method from them and to overcome difficult situations of life. I never thought one hobby can makes such a big difference.

I am not a disciplined reader instead I am kind of reader who will pick a 500 page fiction and will read it in 2 days and then won't pick my next for another 2 months or will pick a 150 page fiction and will never finish it instead will pick separate book next day. Why I do this or what kind of books I specifically do this is with is still something I need to conclude on. Maybe I can just call myself a moody reader.

Not sure about my reading pattern but something I am very sure about is that what reading means to me.