Butterfly

Five

"Kritika?" Naina's voice interrupted my blank stare towards sky. I had zoned out. Not sure what exactly I was thinking about but my train of thoughts was being held on a red signal which was Naina's voice.

"Yeah... no... sorry. I guess I zoned out. Anyway aren't you going to continue about the guy who's secretly replacing me?" A smile spread across my face as I attempted to change the subject. Naina was trying not to smile which was my cue that my attempt was successful.

"Nobody is replacing you."

"I won't even let them" my eyebrows raised as I smiled. "Well, go on then, what is this little Mr. maybe-nonexistent called?"

"Brandon. He's half-American and half-Indian. Born and brought up in America and only shifted to Milan last year."

"Hmm... Interesting. Time for me to start stalking his social media handles." I said as I picked up my phone. Naina's description of any guy always makes me feel like either we are working for a matrimonial company or are top secret investigators on a mission- and she's giving me our next suspect's details.

Snatching my phone away from my hand she gave me a look which reminded me of a cat I saw earlier today hissing at a bird.

"Oh no... that is not gonna happen." I didn't mind that because I was not going to stalk him. Naina always used to tease me that I could actually put my stalking skills to good use by either becoming a top secret agent/detective or tipping police with some useful information. I was not bothered when Naina took away my phone as it was just to tease her. And her reaction made it clear that it was again a successful attempt.

I tried really hard not to giggle but I couldn't help. Her expression was just hilarious.

"So tell me everything. From the beginning."

"Oh it's not that interesting. We just talk about our classes and interests and just what are we doing in general. Actually, now that I think about it, we don't even talk that much. Just like maybe for 20 minutes."

"Mhmm... 20 minutes is not bad."

"Well, I don't know."

"Is he single? Have you guys asked each other about that?"

"Yeah... well not really, but I'm pretty sure he is."

"And how is that?"

"I think I overheard from some girls in my class. A lot of them seem into him."

"Well you better move fast then"

"I don't know whether I'm interested or not just yet but he seems nice. He always listens to me patiently and you know we have a lot in common."

"Like what?"

"Like we like the same band and we have the same hobbies..." Naina trailed off. 

By this time I was zoning out again. I knew what she was going to say because I've heard this list a lot of time. Sometimes she doesn't realize that the guys she like don't have something in common with her so much as she has in common with them. Every time she would meet a new guy all of his hobbies and interests were suddenly Naina's hobbies and interests too. She didn't realize it because she would be so much into the guy. And when the guy revealed that he was not-so-very single, she would start hating those bands and those interests would become her pet peeves.

I could feel her gaze on me as I realised she had stopped talking. I looked at her but I was not sure what to say as I wasn't listening. I was quickly trying to figure out through her expression whether it was a yes-no question or a long answer question. My best attempt was a failure because as soon as I opened my mouth all that came out was a "huh?!"

"Why are you smiling?" she repeated.

"Oh you know, I was just thinking about your new interests and hobbies." I said air-quoting interests and hobbies.

"Yeah I know you think I still lie about them whenever I have a crush on a guy. But that's not the case here. It's legit. This time, I was actually talking about myself when he told me he likes that band too." she said. Her face revealed a mixture of expression- her chocolate coloured eyes were twinkling in confidence and the smile was convincing enough to tell she know what she was saying.

"Then what if he was lying about it?"

"Why would he?"

"You know, it works other way round too. Guys can lie too if they want to impress the girl."

"Oh you're one to talk. How would you know? You barely even talk to guys." she said chuckling.

She was right. I didn't really have a lot of guy friends around me since childhood. It was pretty hard to talk to guys once I grew up because I didn't know what to say or how to act. I had seen a lot of girls flirting really fluently around guys and acting innocent but that was something really unnatural to me so it was always difficult for me to figure how to act or what to say.

But I was quite an observer, I knew boys lied too. I had seen them. And this time I knew it from my personal experience. Boys lied too.

"I know."