The first book I ever finished and still remember today was a Telugu translation of Doctor Aybolit by Korney Chukovsky. At first, I thought it was a story of Dr. Dolittle, as both Dolittle and Aybolit treat animals and speak their language. Later, I found out the truth.

At the time, it felt like a huge book to me. It actually belonged to my cousin, who had received it as a gift from someone else.

I discovered it by chance during my very first visit to my mother’s village for a festival. The story immediately caught my attention, but I couldn’t finish it in one visit. It took a few more trips to the village before I finally completed the entire book.

Looking back, that book became the starting point of my reading journey. What began as a chance discovery in a village eventually turned into a lifelong habit of reading stories and novels.

Even today, I remember that book fondly because it opened the door to a world of books that I still enjoy exploring.