Since Forever

Certain people do not enter our bookstore, EBD, as customers alone. They return as familiar presences, carrying years, memories, and quiet loyalty. They have been coming here for decades. Time has moved on, the shelves have changed, faces behind the counter have changed, yet they continue to walk in with the same ease. Many of them are older now, but their connection to this place remains unchanged. Almost instinctively, they ask for the 10 per cent discount—something they were once offered without question, and that has become a small but meaningful symbol of trust.

This gesture was introduced by the late Snehlata Ma’am, whose presence shaped the bookstore’s shape. She is no longer with us; her influence continues to live on through those who remember her.

They share stories with us.

Stories of conversations she held, of books she recommended with care, of how this bookstore once felt like an extension of her own personality. To many, she was not just the person behind the counter; she was the heart of the space. When they speak of her, it becomes evident that her absence has not erased her presence.

Among these long-standing patrons is Ratna Manucha (author, columnist and someone whose association with the bookstore goes beyond routine visits). She has her own memories here in ebd and has also been part of our Brewing Knowledge Session, attending the meet-and-greet. Her continued involvement reflects what this space has always aimed to be—a place of reading, reflection, and relationships.

At EBD, relationships have never been transactional. People return not only for books, but for familiarity, recognition, and the comfort of a place that has grown alongside them.

So when someone who has been coming here for years asks for that small discount, it is never viewed as a request—it is understood as continuity. A reminder that some bonds are built quietly over time and are sustained through shared respect and memory.

This bookstore stands today not only for the books it holds, but also for the people who continue to return to it, carrying its history forward.

This photograph is from Ratna Manucha’s meetManucha’sat EBD. The gentleman seen here has also been part of EBD for a long time.

Sneha
Intern at The English Book Depot