A World Without Fire

F. plant! plant!

After Vishwash left, I said, "You go, I need to go somewhere. You can go home alone."

Shraddha said, "I don't have any work, I'll go with you."

"You're coming? What's happened to you? Is everything okay? You don't have anxiety anymore?" I said, teasing her.

"Ha, very funny! But you know, I'm looking for a new painting idea, but I don't know how to find it."

"What's the idea?"

"If you misunderstand, then don't ask," her smile suggested that it was probably a useless idea in her mind.

I asked, "So what's the idea?"

"If you want to talk to me, you'll have to book a date for me," she said, winking.

I rolled my eyes and said, "You and your dumb jokes! Listen! Miss Shraddha, I'm not interested in anyone."

"Anyone? Are you a plant?"

"I don't know, but I've never felt anything for anyone. I don't understand dating or love... wait, why am I telling you this?"

"I've never dated anyone, my whole life has been spent watching movies and series, so I think I'm movie-sexual."

I felt like laughing, but the joke was really dumb. "Don't say that, was that your first date?"

"True! I'm scared of going on dates."

Oh! That's why, she didn't know what to wear. After going on 58 dates, I realized I didn't like anyone. I dated boys, but then I found out they were all boring. One day, I got the courage to try dating girls, but I stopped thinking, 'Why does gender matter if I'm not interested?'

"Let's go, I'm in pain because of you. I had to face Vishwash again."

We stopped the auto, and sat down, with space between us. Sharda was already comfortable, her shoulders relaxed. When we reached home, I went to my room, and she went to hers.

I was Googling where interviews are being held and thinking about preparing for them. I turned on my laptop and YouTube, searching for how to answer interview questions when my door knocked.

Shraddha was standing at the door. "What the fuck do you want?" I asked.

She was eating chips and said, "Will you tell me?" then walked into my room. I got angry, then looked around my room and said, "It's nice here."

I asked, "Shraddha, what do you want? Go outside, I need to work."

"Will you tell me what to wear for the next date? Actually, I have no experience, so can you teach me? I feel bad for how I behaved with Vishwash."

"Do you even like him?" I made an angry face.

"Yes! He's so cute."

It always seems like that at first. Why I wanted to ask her what her favorite painting was, what color she likes. Talking about paintings is so much fun for me, but I couldn't let go of my attitude.

"Anything to say?" Shraddha asked.

"There was a boy in my school who taught me everything. He was so cute too, would make little things for me and bring me food."

"So, was he your first boyfriend?" She put the chips aside, and I sat next to her on the bed, and she made some space between us, sitting back in a relaxed half-lying position, with the laptop between us.

"NO! He liked me. I never felt the same for anyone... (She didn't say anything, so I continued) Don't judge me, I'm not a heart-player girl."

She replied, "Hey, something just came to my mind."

"What?" I asked, teasing her.

"My grandfather used to say he loved poetry, and he said, 'What I wanted, she didn't have, and what she wanted, I didn't have.' "

"Pretty weird poetry from your grandfather."

But in my mind, I felt like at least she didn't judge me. That was enough. Otherwise, everyone else just judges me and says I'm the type of girl who uses people. I don't really care, but I just keep hearing that.

"My grandfather's words never made sense to anyone."

"I didn't get it either," I said.

She gave a little smile and asked, "Teach me how to date someone."

I had an idea and said, "Hey! Dates aren't something you talk about, they're something you show."

"Means, action speaks louder than words."

"Perfect quote, shall we go?"

She was quite confused, she took split od seconds, she smiled and asked, "You?"