Sir: How often do we see a person reading a book while sipping a cup of tea? The modern day devil, the smart phone, has taken the book’s place with disturbing speed. Reading books for leisure is increasingly becoming a lost habit. With every minor detail about every possible subject freely and readily available on the internet, libraries sit idle with empty chairs, devoid of the sweet sound of shuffling pages. I believe it all begins with a hollow foundation laid by the parents of our children. Parents today are entirely oblivious to the idea of gifting books or instilling in their children the habit of reading. Children are not interested in simple novels that are included in their literature courses at schools. Moreover, the youth have no inclination to get free of their phones and read some books. Many cannot even imagine how serene it feels to read a good book under a lamp while hearing the splatter of rain on your window. My heart aches when I see empty bookstores, desolate libraries and the pleas of those books that yearn for a heartfelt read. Every time someone catches me sitting alone on the side while reading a book, and pities me for being a loner, I pity them for not having a friend as sincere as a book. MAHNOOR KHAN AFRIDI Via Email