Chapter 344

Pryag was ready to go when she reached his home. In just a couple of minutes they both were on their way to the museum. They talked about so many things and all the topics were about the museum. They both were quiet excited. For Pryag the excitement was more from just watching her getting excited like a kid. The traffic was good and they were there by ten fifteen and the parking took a little longer than expected. They started with the dinosaurs and went through the adjacent sections but spent more time around the fossils as she was very interested. There was a show regarding the fossils that was screened and they watched it. Pryag was a little bored but Diya seemed to enjoy the show. Pryag wondered how a authoritative, brave and strong rising entrepreneur that handles any crisis that is thrown at her, be so child like at the same time. He smiled thinking that is probably one of the reasons for him to love her. He looked at her. Her eyes were all sparkly and wide open with excitement. He could see that she was absorbing everything that was being shown and explained just like a dry sponge would absorb when place on top of water. He could also see that she wished to be there when they showed how they excavated one of the fossils. He knew very well that even though she wants to be there she doesn’t have the patience to go through an excavation site for days and months in the hard climate. She was not cut out for that. She is very much into the fast paced life and everything has to be done right away and faster. She needs change and challenges in life and needs the satisfaction of achievement. Fossil digging will never fill her shoes any given day. It is a life for someone who is highly dedicated and patient and meticulous and is willing to give up the creature comforts. He almost fell asleep thinking these and the she was over and the lights were on. She started talking as he had expected, “Did you see that? How wonderful it was? It felt like I was right there. Amazing. I envy them.”

They looked at the time and decided to take a break for lunch and then finish up the rest of the sections. They went down to the food court and waited in line. And finally they were able to get something. Everything was over priced. She took a salad and Pryag went with a chicken sandwich. When they sat down to eat, Pryag remarked. “Did you notice the irony? You, used to eating meat growing up, became a vegetarian staying in my house. And me who grew up eating vegetarian food is hogging on a chicken sandwich” and laughed. After finishing their lunch before venturing further she made a quick stop at the women’s bathroom. There was a long line which was unexpected, or at least she didn’t expect one. Soon she joined the others in waiting. The delay was due to lot of kids around there and the mothers and the kids were using the same ones so they can skip the line which seemed quiet natural as most of them were small within the age of seven and some were not able to reach the sink in order to wash their hands. Two of them were marked do not use. One of them was obviously not working and the other was being cleaned by the maid in uniform. One of the kids with her mother standing behind her said, “Mom. I really have to go. I can’t hold anymore” Diya was now third in line and the lady who was next said, “You can go ahead sweetie” The mother thanked her and rushed into the bathroom with her. So that obviously pushed Diya’s wait a little further but there was not much that she can do. She looked at the time and she wondered how much more they can look around today as they also have to go to the airport to pick up her brother. There was a girl who came out alone from the bathroom who was about six tried to reach for the paper towel after washing her hands. As she was not too small to reach she could reach it and wash her hands. But the paper towel dispenser was motion activated she was having a tough time getting one out of it. One of the ladies who stepped out of the bathroom and was washing her hands tried to help her out but in vain. The motion activated paper towel dispenser was not very cooperative. She asked the girl, “Did you come with your mom?” The girl said, “No I came with my uncle. I am spending this whole weekend with him. Yesterday we went to the Bronx zoo and today we are here at the museum.” The women finally got a paper towel out and gave it the girl. “That is wonderful. Enjoy the rest of your day.” Diya heard the whole conversation from inside the toilet and remembered that Akshar said that he will be spending time with his niece. But she could come out to check to see if it was him who was out there with her.

Chapter 343

Her alarm buzzed and she was up in a flash as she was excited both about the previous day’s events and about their planned visit to the Museum that day. She felt like a kid again. It didn't take long for her to get ready as she was checking the clock often to make sure that she was going to be ready on time. She picked out a simple outfit, a cotton asymmetric skirt in dark pink. She paired it with a pin tuck Cami Top that had a 4-button Henley placket and a picot-trim scoop neck that was cinched under the bust with ties. She figured it might be a little cold once they are inside the building so decided to add denim jacket in pacific blue stretch cotton denim. She paired it with a denim hobo bag that had a magnetic-button closure with O-ring shoulder strap. She wanted to wear something comfortable as she might have to walk a lot. Her feet needed a massage after yesterday's walk in the park with the high heels. She picked out a simple wind leather sandals from Dr.School's. It was all white with a thin line of denim on the straps that adhered to her leg for a good fit. She wore a simple pick beads on around her neck with its matching earrings. Somehow the pink and the white and the blue seemed to blend well together. She was ready and the sandals were so comfortable she felt it was worth the money she had paid for it. She checked the time and was out of the house and was on her way to Pryag's. The previous night they had decided that she will go to his house and from there both of them will be off. Her brother was arriving that day so they had planned to go to JFK airport directly from there to receive him. That way it would be a lot easier with the commute and can save some time driving. As it was a Sunday she knew that the museum closes early and they can grab a sandwich and eat in the car and will still be on time to receive her brother.

She walked over to the guest bedroom to see if everything was set for her brother and Kathy’s arrival. Last time Kathy was there she stayed in the guest bedroom and her brother in his room. So she wanted to make sure that everything was in order. She checked the towels, the bathroom, bed sheets and made sure everything was in order. At the end she opened the closet to make sure that there was not anything there except some extra sheets and decorative pillows. She saw the outfit that Akshar had worn when he had accompanied her to the wedding. It was her brother’s but somehow it seems to fit Akshar very well. She had completely forgotten about it and she realized that the maid must have left it in the closet. She also remembered that she has not told Pryag about Akshar. Some how it didn’t occur to her as she had been having a great time she didn’t remember about Akshar either. Even though she didn’t intentionally left it out, but now that she remembered she felt that she must be honest with Pryag. The thought of Pryag brought a smile on her face and her phone rang. It was Pryag on the other end, “Hi. Where are you? We don’t want to be late?” She said, “Ten minutes.” Pryag said, “Okay. See you then” and he hang up. She took the outfit and left it on her bed for now and closed the door behind her and was out. In just a couple of minutes she was on the road headed towards Pryag’s home. She could not help but smile how wonderful things had turned out to be. Akshar did not even come into her thoughts. All she could think about was the time of her life she was having on the weekend of her birthday. She was excited about visiting the museum and to top it all her brother was arriving. Even though they mostly argued with each other and competed with each other, she loved him very much. His approval meant a lot to her, especially when it came to guys even when her father was alive.