Mona Lisa

You know that you are entering Louvre and you will see the Mona Lisa. You have seen its picture many times before. You are sure you will not be surprised. After all it's a portrait of a lady that is not even related to you. How do you care about it beyond a point. 

Every arrow in the biggest museum in the world is pointing towards Mona Lisa so you decide to start from there. Before you reach it, you don't mind getting distracted by  the exhibits that you see on your way to the most famous painting in the world. 

After all every piece in this prestigious museum is worth a detailed look. 

You follow the arrows that lead you to the most crowded spot. You want to get closer to the painting so you wait patiently for your turn. Gradually you are getting closer to it and don't realise that your heart is beating a bit faster than before. Is it because of the crowd? Is it because you are standing on your toes all this while to get a clearer view? Not sure at this point..... 

Finally you are standing in front of it... looking at it directly and oh my God it just holds your undivided attention. 

You don't want to look at anything else right now. Though you still wonder why is it the best painting. 

All you know at this point is that it surely is a fabulous piece.... you click many pictures of it, take many selfies with it, ask people to take your picture with it... people patiently bear with each other because they are all doing the same thing..... taking their sweet time with it. 

After spending a reasonable amount of time with it, you now move on but the painting is in your thoughts constantly. You still can't understand why is it considered the most beautiful painting of that time..... 

You now look at several other masterpieces in that room and find yourself comparing it with other paintings in the gallery. 

Each and every painting is a remarkable piece of art, detailing just makes you wonder about how, just how did the artists in those times make such outstanding pieces. 

And then finally it hits you that MONA LISA is the only painting in the room with so much serenity, positivity, calmness.....the eyes and the smile are just so real. In comparison to other pieces that are so sad, violent, overtly sexual, and representations of war. Bloodshed, tears, death is glorified in them. You just seem so glad you were not born in that era.... 

But then on the other hand, Mona Lisa is an example that  there was not just war and bloodshed but some normalcy in those times too!!

After 8 hours you have finally ended up ticking all the pieces from your 13 year old's check list.... you are totally exhausted but your husband who was aware of the excitement you had when you saw the Mona Lisa asks you if you want to revisit it one more time before they left. 

You suddenly have the sudden rush of energy and you say yes. 

Kids don't want to because they just want to go out and have their ice cream that was promised to them. But they give in! 

You are tired too but you know that it could be the last time you will see it. So you walk.... walk.... walk some more. 

It's totally worth all the walk because it looks more gorgeous now than before. 

After a few more selfies it's time to bid goodbye to a piece that will stay in your heart forever. 

P.s - there is a personal story here too.... in college when you are dating and constantly calculating in your mind if you want to actually spend your entire life with this guy..... there is a topic of Mona Lisa between your friends and no one but your boy friend knew the answer to the question..... where is Mona Lisa standing in the picture? 

Do you know? 

My husband knew..... 

I got to know it that day and I got to see it now!!