G. I like the taste.

I said, 'Don't judge me! I'm amazing, okay? People fall for me. I was the charming girl in school, and in college, I got 30 letters... love letters, okay?'"

Shraddha burst out laughing. "Mane koi shak nathi ke tamme charming hati—I mean, I have no doubt you were charming." Her words were awkward, but her intense gaze made my stomach flutter. "But I need to ask... you're a girl, and so am I. You get what I mean? How would dating even work?"

I hesitated. "Should I act like a guy? How about that?"

"Nahh! You're too charming for that." She smiled, leaning closer, her eyes locking onto mine. My shoulders tensed under her gaze. No girl had ever made me feel this... exposed. Then she added, "I'll be the guy."

She tied her loose hair into a messy bun, her movements casual yet somehow captivating. I cleared my throat. "Do you even know what happens on a date?"

"No," she admitted, shrugging.

I grabbed two chairs, setting them up with a makeshift table. "When I arrive, you stand up and pull out the chair for me. Like this." I showed her, feeling a bit awkward.

She nodded and stood up, greeting me, "Hi, Divya."

"Hii, Shraddha—wait, Shraddha isn't a boy's name!"

"I love my name. Don't change it." She grinned as she pulled out the chair for me. As I sat, she leaned in, her lips dangerously close to my ear. "Tu to beautiful lagi rahi che!"

I jumped. "Shraddha! I didn't teach you that!"

She pouted, her eyes wide with mock innocence. "Are you starting to understand Gujarati? Umm I saw it in a movie. I thought I should give a compliment."

I sighed. "On a first date, you don't get this close. It's not a movie. People feel uncomfortable, you know?"

"So movies show lies? Seriously? I thought the first date ends with a kiss or... you know... ding dong... making out."

"Sometimes it does, but not every date is like that. Some are just about talking... eating..." I trailed off, feeling a strange nervousness. Was it because I was on a fake date with a girl?

"Okay!" She grabbed her earlobe and twisted it thoughtfully. "So, tell me! what are your hobbies?"

"Such a boring question. Since I'm playing the guy here, let me ask you!" I nodded for her to go on.

Shraddha smirked. "Who was your first kiss with?"

"Heyyyyyyyyy! That's not the kind of question you ask! Good thing you're a girl, anyone else would've left by now. Ask something normal."

"This is such a weird date, no romantic talk at all. If this is what a date is like, it's pretty boring," she teased, leaning back in her chair. I couldn't decide if I could even call this a conversation.

I crossed my arms and said calmly, "I learned how to kiss in school, so my first kiss must've been a boy from back then."

Her eyes lit up. "Wow! What did he look like? Was he handsome?"

I nodded. "Hmm."

"And after that?"

I avoided her gaze. "No, that was it."

She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Do you know what happened to me? I used to attend extra painting classes. The teacher there, oh my God, he always gave me good marks."

"Maybe because you were genuinely good at drawing?"

"Nope! You know... he probably had a crush on me. After that, I had crushes on three boys at school. They all had girlfriends, though. And in college, there was one guy."

"Wait, you're playing the guy here. Shouldn't it be girls you had crushes on?"

"Okay! Then I have five crushes on girls."

"Five? It should be four."

"Including you?" she winked.

Is she flirting with me? Oh gosh! My eyes widened in shock. She's such a pro at this. Here I was, trying to act like the hero, and she's way ahead.

"Forget it. Stick to the gender role. say it was a guy." My shoulders rose and fell again.

"Okay, what do you like?"

"Chess and paintings."

"I don't understand chess, but I've heard it's difficult."

"It's not difficult at all."

"What do you do in it?"

"Two kings fight."

"Then why call it chess? Just call it war," she said, laughing.

"Good idea. By the way, since you're into painting, why don't you show me one of yours?"

"Chal, jaiye! (Let's go!)" she said, standing up eagerly. Finally, I'd get to see her room again and smell the faint aroma of paint.

As we entered her room, she flipped on the lights and turned to me. "How's the room?"

She played soft romantic music, clearly inspired by some movie again. I didn't say anything and instead looked at her paintings.

"Which is your favorite painting?" I asked.

"I haven't made it yet," she replied with a small smile. She is not serious about the answer. she's just giving answers as if she's lying about everything.

"What's your favorite color?"

"I don't really have one, but I like white. It blends with everything."

"So does yellow."

"But white loses its color and becomes something else."

"Yellow does that too if you mix it with dark colors."

"Stop arguing! I like white, and that's it," she said, irritated. I couldn't help but laugh.

She handed me a water bottle and said, "Here, have a white wine."

I tried not to laugh. "Ami pi na. (I don't drink.) What if you take advantage of me?"

She winked. "I wish you'd take advantage of me instead."

Wow, she's bold! This girl doesn't seem like this is her first time at all. Ami pura confusion e bhora, take bujhte parbo na. (I am full of confusion, understanding it is beyond me.)

I took a sip of water and asked, "I like the taste of this."

"Yeah, I always buy that one," she said, grinning. My gaze fell back on her paintings. "Which one's your favorite?" she asked.

"I like all of them, but one is especially good," I said, pointing at a painting.

"Are you talking about me? Oh, you're saying I'm beautiful?" She's so happy, it's like I gave her a compliment, blooming like a flower... or like she just won the lottery!

Wait, what? I genuinely meant the painting in back! Why does she find romance in everything? Does this girl ever step out of her movie world?

Are girls always this irritating? Amar to gober hoye gechi? (I have turned into shit.) I am girl too, but I'm not like Shraddha.