A World Without Fire

I. Ghosts laughing

She said with a genuine smile, "Thanks!" I just smiled back.

When I went to my room, I looked at the two chairs and said, "Something unusually funny happened today."

I started laughing loudly, lying on the bed. Every joke of Shraddha's seemed hilarious to me now. The way she said things—it was all so good that I couldn't stop laughing. Then she knocked on the door again.

I went silent, controlled my laughter, and opened the door.

"What?" I asked rudely.

"I can hear ghosts laughing in here. Can't you laugh a little more quietly? You ruined my painting," she said.

I wanted to laugh again but controlled myself and asked her, "Listen! It's my room. I can do whatever I want."

She handed her my phone and said, "Save your number. I can't keep coming to your room to complain."

"I'll block you. I don't want your calls," I said angrily.

She asked, "Do you want me to keep coming to your room?"

I stared at her for a few seconds and then, with an angry look, said, "Stop with the dating character. I'm not your girlfriend. Stop flirting with me."

"I'm having too much fun. I won't stop," she said casually.

"Go flirt with Vishwash. He'll give you all the answers you want, and you two would make a great pair."

"Yes, I know. But how could I miss the chance to annoy you?"

"You're awful," I said, glaring at her.

"Less than you," she said.

I saved her number on my phone and as she locked her phone, my eyes fell on her wallpaper. I said, "This is The Starry Night painting, right?"

We both said together, "Vincent van Gogh."

I showed her my phone's wallpaper and said, "I also have the same painting."

"Wow, matching."

"Yeah."

That was all we said. Then I handed her phone back, and she took it. I closed the door and looked at my phone for a moment before leaving it aside. I started watching an interview video on my laptop, but then I searched for songs, put on my headphones, and began listening. Soon after, I took off the headphones, left them aside, opened the door, and glanced at Her's door. I stepped outside and stared at the evening sky for a while.

Evening was slowly turning into night, and I still didn't know why today felt so good. Spending time with good people makes you feel nice, I guess.