What are the odds of stepping into a space only to learn that it was going to be their last day of operation? Something similar happened to yours truly after we walked into Trilogy bookstore at Raghuvanshi Mills last weekend, only to learn from its owners that the place was shutting down. We had to collect our thoughts rather quickly since there was an impending workshop with a bunch of impatient children that had to be done. Almost immediately though, there was some good news that lifted our spirits. The bookstore was to relocate to Bandra in a couple of months. Phew.

Later, as we sipped on chai with the owners — Ahilya Naidu and Meethil Momaya — two young, bright entrepreneurs — they told us that the city's land sharks in the area were reason for them to fold up and move someplace less stressful. We were instantly reminded of the underlying theme from the Meg Ryan-Tom Hanks-starrer You've Got Mail, except that in this case, it wasn't another, bigger bookstore but the city's real estate bullies that were causing them a big, endless headache. After the hows and whys were explained, we realised that it made sense to move after all. But then again, we, like most of their loyal patrons, were bound to miss its tranquil and leafy character.