Museum

I was in Patna after two years. Many things had changed and many things were the same. There was a flyover just running next to Hanuman Mandir. The mosque next to it was higher than I remembered. The Central Jail was not there anymore. A stupa stood there. I could see my father's office building, CDA Patna. I got a bit teary when I saw my first ever friend, Golu. It was surreal. I spent my night at his home. I am sure I have lived my fair share of childhood in his house and he has in my house. It was still the same. First legit sleepover.

Next day Abhijeet came to my house. We talked and started brainstorming ideas about where to go. Golu suggested Bihar museum. I had come to know it was a nice and relatively new place. Everything in Patna was new for me, except Maurya Lok. Which apparently was blue at some point in time. So I was excited to go. We reached after eating at Maurya Lok and beating (read suffering) Dakbangla Chauraha jam. The museum from outside was one of the most beautiful architecture I have seen in Patna. It was nice to have someplace other than Golghar and Gandhi Maidan to visit.

I fell in love with the place as soon as I stepped inside. There was a kids playroom! Totally a place for me. I hurried inside after posing with Abhijeet for a few clicks. I was wondering about how they managed to make a 15ft sparrow when I saw someone from the corner of my eye and as I turned to get a glimpse, there was no one. We treaded to "Bihar's Wildlife" room. There were binoculars at a high platform. We had to get the best view. I got on top and started looking at all the bird's effigy that was hanging from the roof. I saw a figure moving fast. Kids! My eyes followed them and settled at the "Well". The well was crowded. I saw a few characters leaning and trying to peer into something entertaining. I got down from the platform and headed toward the well. I really wished it was a wishing well, however, I guess all my dreams did come true there. I saw a girl. She was a tad tall and had long hair. Both, not of my liking. Except I was caught at her looks and couldn't merely let my gaze wander. She paced around, playing games and laughing at their stupidity. It was pleasant to feel warmth from someone else smile. I tailgated her and she noticed. She was amused at my behaviour. I grinned at her. She gave me a half smile, and we continued walking. She was checking out the old broken effigies. I was checking out the perfection she was. I tried to capture all the details of the museum. I had to write about this. I was expecting my ending to be.

"And I saw her leaving. She turned around and smiled at me for the last time."

But the end is something like this.

"Hey, so my name is Pratik. Satya Pratik Srivastava. And you are?"

She extended her hand and gave me the best smile I have ever seen and said.

"I am,..."

THE END! And it was just the begining!