Butterfly girl - Part 1

"Alright baby, just a few more steps and we are at our usual spot.. ok!!?".. He heard the trusty woof back with a waging tail as expected. "Well there is comfort in routine expected reactions isn't it!" he thought with a smug smile on his face.

Abhinav stopped by his usual sitting spot. Huffing and puffing after a long run. Baby - his trusted canine companion had already hopped on his place on the bench looking over the park with an ominous look on his face. Like he is the lord watching over his kingdom. 

Abhi laughed within himself for his thoughts and sat down opening his water bottle for the much needed drink. It was at that moment he saw her, the moment he is going to remember for the rest of his life. She was running towards him earphones in place, looked like she was running to the rhythm of the song she was listening.  Because the way she ran made no sense.  She would slow down and pick up her pace, take side steps then jump and again repeat the whole process. It was very intriguing to watch her.

She looked up to him as if she could sense his look and as fast as she fixed her gaze on him, it shifted towards baby at the same speed. And her face lit up with a huge smile. Abhi spurted out the water in the shock of seeing how her beautiful smile transformed her face. Those big eyes and pert nose, lips sporting a huge grin, her curly hair tied up into a pony looking as if it might break free of its hold at any time. The escaped tendrils sticking to her forehead. She slowed down to a walk as he wiped his mouth and closed his water bottle. All her attention was on baby, she didn't even notice him gawking at her. She took off her earphones as she reached him and kneel down before baby. And spoke in a throaty voice suiting her persona directed towards baby "hi there darling, you are so cute..."

Abhi was still staring at her when she turned her gaze towards him. Up close her eyes were more mesmerizing than her smile, those light honey eyes sparkled with secrets he wished to know. He was drowning in her eyes. He saw her eyebrows scrunching and her eyes transforming from liquid pool of mystery to questioning, only then he came out of his trance to notice she was speaking to him. 

He sat straighter and asked "Sorry ???"

She asked with a voice barely holding patience "Whats your dog's name and Can I pet her... or him?"

Abhi smiled and answered "Baby" with his voice softening.

She asked "What?" while her eyes sparked fire..

He immediately understood his mistake and explained stumbling upon his words "NO.. no no .. Actually I mean his name ... my dog's name is Baby and yes you can pet him, he is very friendly"

Her face cleared up immediately like a wiped board. He was amused at this transformation, he looked at her as if he could just keep staring at her seeing all the emotions on her face transforming from one to another. 

She turned her attention towards baby and said in a cajoling voice "Hi baby, how are you.. oh you are good dog, so sweet isn't it...'

Her voice carried on with her sweet words towards baby while petting him. Baby was obviously enjoying all the attention. For first time in his life, Abhi was jealous of his dog, wishing if only she had turned her attention towards him. The next second he chided himself for such wayward thoughts. Ogling about an unknown girl. 

"I agree she is mesmerizing, beautiful... Doesn't mean I should forget my dignity and drool at her" he scolded himself while trying to focus on something else. 

She stood up with a final pat on baby's head and turned to leave. Abhi's heart was in his throat, he wanted her to stay for some more time beaming that smile with sparkle in the eyes, may it be towards baby itself. He leaned forward to call her, just in time to remember he didn't know what to call her. As he was thinking she turned back towards slowly, as if she was debating a thought and finally asked him "But he is a he, why did you name him baby?"

As usual his trusted friend came to rescue and the intrigue of his name made her talk to him. He grinned while he said "Actually his name is Bruno, he is my ex-girlfriend's dog. She had a habit of calling everyone she likes as baby. And he mistook that his name is baby."

"And she left him with you?"

"Well she found her new baby, so left me her old one. But he is more used to me, he actually never liked her much... Or so I convince myself every time he wags his tail to me"

She smiled as his attempt at humour and said "So his "Actual" name is Bruno"

"Yeah but he responds to either one when his mood suits"

"How is that possible?" she questioned with intrigue

"When he is angry he will only answer to Bruno, when he is playful he responds to Baby. But with beautiful women he responds to just anything."

She looked at him skeptically, he tensed thinking he pushed a bit far. But when she smiled at him, he let out a sigh.

She stayed for few more minutes petting Baby and playing with him. After sometime when she started to get and leave, it looked like Baby had accepted her as a treasured member of his kingdom and loathe to let her go.

"Bye".. She waved at him and started to plug in her earphones and he said in a hurry, "Er... you know you can always find us here at this time. I mean if you wish to meet Baby again"

She smiled at him in acknowledgment and he continued "By the by my name is Abhinav..."

She smiled and said "Sanvi and I don't do routines. Bye"

She turned away before he reacted and started her unique run. As she moved away he noticed beautiful butterfly tattoo on her shoulder. Seemed so appropriate to her. Fleeting, flying, someone drowned in their own joy.

He smiled to himself and patted Baby while he exclaimed "One hell of a girl isn't it Baby", he woofed as he should loyally looking towards where the "butterfly" hopped away. Abhi grinned towards Baby's longing gaze and got up to start back home.