In the verandah, the firewood was sparkling golden-red flames. A group of tourists was seated in the reception room of Fakir Khana Museum. The host, Mr. Saif, was narrating enigmatic accounts of old Lahore, as alluring as the tales from the Arabian Nights, and his portrayals as convincing as that of Scheherazade. I was lucky to be there to hear such heart-rendering facts about our history that the cold wintry evening warmed up inside me as hope and prayer for our future as a country. What we were once, we cannot choose to be any different: Proud, Courageous, Tolerant, and Undefeatable. Each article in the museum has a story to tell. The journey from this day to back and beyond took me to the courts of monarchs who ruled Lahore and how people lived in harmony and embraced differences without discord. The sunflower ring of King Porus, the ivory paintings of Mughal kings and queens, the celebration of seasons so intricately depicted, valuable pieces of furniture, jewelry, coins, terracotta items from Mehrgarh, images of Buddha in stone, artifacts from Indus Valley Civilizations, rare pottery pieces from China, Persian carpets hung on walls are worth seeing. The highlight is a cupboard that contains rare Quranic manuscripts. There is a section of precious /semi-precious rings encased in velvet boxes. Fakir Khana is a treasure house of period-specific objects carefully placed for display, and anyone who wants to know how great our ancestors were, can visit this museum. Fakir Saif says: This is a house open to all. Welcome! For me, the experience was unforgettable.