Half Girlfriend

‘What?’ she said, surprised.
‘About placing my hand on yours,’ I said. I didn’t want my stupid
move to backfire.
‘When?’
‘During the movie.You know, I...’
‘I don’t even remember that,’ she said, interrupting me.
‘Oh,’ I said, and felt a wave of relief run through me. ‘Then why
do you look upset?’
‘Never mind,’ she said. Silent Riya’s typical response. She brushed
aiide strands of hair from her face.
‘Why don’t you ever tell me anything?’ I said, my voice a mixture
of plea and protest.
She finished her milkshake and placed the empty bottle on a
table.‘Ready to go?’ she said instead.
‘Riya, we never talk about you. Am I only good enough to play
basketball with?’
‘What?’
‘We meet, play, eat and talk. But you never share anything
important with me.’
‘I don’t share much about my life with anyone, Madhav.’
‘Am I just anyone?’
A waiter arrived to collect the empty bottles. She spoke only after
lie left.‘You are a friend.’
‘So?’
‘So what? I have many friends. I don’t share stuff with them.’
‘Am I just like every other friend of yours? Is there nothing special
about me?’
She smiled. ‘Well, you do play basketball better than anyone else.’
I stood up. I didn’t find her funny.
‘Hey, wait.’ Riya pulled me down again.
I sat down with a stern expression.
‘Why do you want to know about my life?’ she said.
‘It matters to me. Unlike your other friends, I can tell if something