Stranger at a museum

I walked into the museum expecting nothing out of the ordinary. It was a school trip to a science and technology museum and I couldn't wait for it to be over so we could all go shopping later. Science was never my strong subject.

I was surprised at how interactive this museum was. Just as we walked in, there was huge dinosaur, complete with moving arms and a loud growl. There was also a full scale model of the Wright Flyer, hanging from the roof. Hey, maybe this wouldn't be so boring after all. 

We moved on to the lever and gear exhibits. I couldn't wait to keep moving because the last thing you want to see while on a trip are the same stuff in your text books that you stare into all year long. But then... I saw him.

He was tall, with gorgeous sandy blond hair. Bright blue eyes behind thick rimmed glasses. Casual clothes; beige shorts and a blue shirt over a grey t-shirt. He held a camera in his hand. He was leaning on the railing, waiting for this noisy group of school girls to pass by. He had a calm resting face, his thin lips pursed into a smile, hardly detectable. I should be ashamed, but I couldn't take my eyes off him. He was a beautiful man, straight out of my wildest dreams, and I stood there, smiling at him like an idiot.

He saw me and smiled back, probably out of politeness. Foreigners in India are often extremely polite. I coolly stepped over and leaned on the railing, while my friends checked out the functioning of gears. I had something much more interesting to check out, right were I was.

I wanted to say Hi. There was so much I wanted to know. Where are you from? What accent do you have? Would I be able to recognize your accent? All I wanted was to hear him talk... just say a word.

But the school group moved along, which means I had to keep moving too. As I looked back, I saw him left alone with the gears, and he proceeded to enthusiastically take photographs of the exhibits. Maybe I'd see him around.

The whole museum had a total of three floors. And for the next two hours, while pretending to be interested in the science of it all, I scoured the entire museum searching for this one man, while dragging my friend along with me. But there was no trace of him. It was like he had vanished. Disappeared completely.

I looked for him everywhere, every single floor. Every nook and cranny. Nothing.

After a long search, I gave up. He must have left, in which case, I'll never see him again. I sighed resignedly as  I crawled down the steps. My class mates were waiting near the exit to regroup.

So this is it, I'm leaving too. I'll never see him again. Oh, what I would give to see his perfect features one last time...

I heard footsteps behind me. I turned my head slightly and there he was, coming down the steps, just behind me. I caught a whiff of his cologne. I quickened my pace and got to the bottom of the stairs, then turned around and looked at him.

The soft smile still adorned his face. The school girls were crowding the exit. He walked into the crowd, and brushed right past me.

As I stood in line, waiting for them to take my number, I saw him walk through the door and out of the museum. He paused there, got the feel of his surroundings and then moved on, out into the big city.

This mystery man. This beautiful stranger. Now, I'll never see him again.