“I think I am in love,” announced A as she plonked herself on B’s settee.

“You think too much sweetheart…,” said an indulgent B.

“I think this time round it is the real thing.”

“You are always sure it is the real thing dear, remember X, and Y …and Z for that matter?”

“X was a jerk, Y was a nitwit and Z was… well Z was a nice chap, but he just couldn’t understand how honored he ought to have felt. Also, he had absolutely zero ambition…”

“Honored because you fell in ‘love’ with him? C’mon A, you cannot be serious now.”

“Why not? I am a beauty, I am fairly intelligent… besides, I am rich.”

“You are rich I agree … you are absolutely priceless!”

“Yeah, that’s what… hey, you were being sarcastic weren’t you? Stop sniggering. You are supposed to be my best pal. Don’t you want to know who it is?”

“Cool it hon, who is it this time?”

“Sigh… the most handsome of them all and he is such a honey… he is well educated and comes from a decent family and…”

“Hey, cut the frills and get to the point.”

“Impatient duffer!”

“Impatient indeed … are you going to tell me or am I going to have to blackmail you into telling me?”

“Ok, ok, but you must promise to…”

“…To keep it inside me, come hail or storm, guide’s honor, gentle-lady’s faith and blah blah…”

“Hey, you know all my lines by-heart, that’s a true pal for you.”

“Enough of all that, out with it this minute or I shall explode…”

“Ha ha … imagine a burst B, there shall be a B everywhere and not one B to C…!”

“Aren’t we being funny today?”

“Chill B, here goes nothing… I am in love with H. Notice how he stands up straight, I would love to lean on those strong arms of his…”

“Not H … (groan)… what do you like in him?”

“He never says ‘I’ …hate those self centered guys… and he has such a handsome profile, he is humorous, and such a total hunk yaar.”

“He is simply horrid…”

“Not fair, did I ever criticize C?”

“C? Why would anybody criticize C? He is so chivalrous and cute… and he is charming too…”

“Oh yeah? How about a crude crabby chump?

“Lets not argue, so when are you going to let H know, that he is your hero?”

“That’s where I need your expertise, how did you tell C that he was the chosen one?”

“I just batted my eyelashes and put on my best side for him… well my curves caught his attention initially and then it was a different ball game once he came to know the real B.”

“I am a first in everything… but a loser when it comes to curves … you think he would fall for a straight A person like me? Am more worried as his Ex was S … that woman is such a svelte thing…”

“Hey little nut, she isn’t his current flame remember… what does that teach you?”

“…that you have to be hotter than S?”

“Of course not idiot! It teaches you that being sexy is not enough, you got to have be able to maintain an animated conversation… keeps the interest going you know, communication … (sigh) my C is so good at communicating…”

“Hello? We are talking about me here.”

“Sorry, got carried away… so where was I? Yeah, you are arty, amicable, ambitious and an absolutely amazing person… so don’t worry, you can borrow some confidence from my C … sorry, couldn’t resist that one.”

“Thanks, I really needed that boost… B you are the best buddy a gal could have. Got to go now, H will be at his usual haunt around now, will go and try to catch his attention… Adios B.”

“Bye Bye A … All the best to U … uh … A.”

30 seconds later, B was on the phone with F.

After all, H had confessed to his sister F about his crush on her “beautiful friend B.” He was kind of handsome … and C was beginning to get just a  little bit controlling.

Uma Iyer is a writer, a mother and a freelance consultant for marketing communication to several organisations. She was raised in Mumbai and currently lives in Delhi. Her retirement plan includes two dogs, many books and a shack by the sea.