Where Did The Map Go

Early in the morning, Detective Sherlock, the dog, was enjoying a breakfast of aaloo parantha with his detective friend, Dr Watson, the cat, who was reading 'The Jungle Times'.

- Dr. Amitabh Shankar Ray Choudhury

Soon the gentlemen heard the stairs creaking, and Sherlock's face lit up. ""The heavy footsteps suggest that we have a hefty visitor. If my estimate is correct, it's the Director of the jungle museum, Dr Bennett, the bear."

While Sherlock predicted this, Dr Bennett entered the room panting and said, "Hey Sherlock! There's no time to leisurely sip coffee. I'm about to lose face here. Save me!"

"Oh, what happened? You'll have to tell me that. But first, please calm down and take a seat," Sherlock said.

While Dr Bennett settled in, Watson quietly asked Sherlock, "How did you know that it was Dr Bennett"

"Just a sharp eye and a quick mind, my friend. On the way here, he stood under a tree with a beehive. The bees started flying around immediately when they saw him," Sherlock smiled.

"Now listen," Dr Bennett interrupted, "yesterday, a rare map of the Silk Road disappeared from the museum. I found out this morning right when the Hall's door opened."

"The Silk Road? The one that goes from China to Turkey?"

"Yes, the 6,500 km long route. The map mentions various things like mountains, rivers, places of historical importance and inns for travelers on the Silk Road," Dr Bennett explained.

"Do you suspect anyone?" Sherlock asked, pacing in the room.

"For a household facing theft, everyone is a suspect!" Dr Bennett said.

"Still, think about it. Has anyone ever said anything related to the map?"

"Four days ago, some foreigners were here. They were enthusiastically asking about it. A trader from Samarkand in Uzbekistan came and inquired if there was another copy of this map. He mentioned that a new museum is opening there, and the curators are looking for such items. They are willing to pay a fair amount because of Samarkand's importance in the map, as the route goes from Jiayuguan City in China to Samarkand, and going through Bukhara, it extends all the way to Bursa in Turkey."