There are about 8 billion people in the world. And there's roughly a 0.11 per cent chance of any given person having a "twin stranger." Put another way, there is only a one in 135 chance that a single pair of doppelgängers exists on our planet of m...
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I have a bad habit of laughing in serious situations.
In fact, when my brother, Ishaan died, six years back, I had laughed, laughed to the point where I thought I was finally losing my sanity. I had laughed until my laughter eventually turned into hysterical sobs. I had laughed at the realness of the situation because it was completely absurd. Because Ishaan couldn't just die, not like this. But yet he was dead, and I was the reason. Tell me am I still a sister, still a sibling? What do you call people who have lost their siblings?
No one saw me laughing that night, otherwise, I would have been straight away packed into the asylum. I was all alone, just as I am now, hunched over the dead body of Ishaan's pet dog- Mickey. A hysterical laugh escaped from my lips.
Just like Ishaan, Mickey had died tonight because of me. I may not have been the driver of the bus that ran over Mickey, but I was the one to let him go off his leash. And he died, right in front of my eyes, while I stood there, at the edge of the road, helplessly.
The passersby didn't pay any heed to me, as I cradled his lifeless form in my arms. Blood was all over me but I didn't care. Some of them gave me sympathising looks, others just walked on by but no one cared to stop and ask. In a vast metropolitan city like Kolkata, no one stops, no one cares. I snorted at the irony of the situation. At the end of the day, Mickey was an animal, had it been a human----- well let's not go there.
Mickey was buried in our backyard, later that night. There was no ceremony or speeches. My father dug the grave while my mother stood afar silently. I couldn't bring myself to toss his collar down with him. I slipped it into the pocket of my jeans and went to stand beside my mother.
"Are you angry at me?" I asked her.
My mother shook her head. "It isn't your fault, Ishu." After a beat, she added softly, "It was never your fault."
The first teardrop of the night escaped from my eye.
•••••••••
Breakfast was a subdued affair the next morning. Everyone at the table kept glancing at each other, too afraid to say anything. I fought the urge to laugh.
I took a bite of my egg toast when suddenly my phone vibrated.
"No phones during eating hours." My father reminded me.
I had already unlocked my phone by then. "Wait- it's an email from my college."
My mother sighed and asked, "Why are they even sending mail during vacations?"
The rest of the family stared at me quizzically as my eyes widened. No this can't be true. I read the mail once again.
"What is it?" My cousin poked my shoulder and I snorted in response.
I handed over my phone to my mother who quickly scanned it and passed it to my father. He read through the mail and gave the phone back to me.
"Well, what is it?" My grandparents asked in sync.
I snorted like a pig and said, "My college is sending me and some of my classmates to the USA for an international student exchange program. University of Chicago to be precise. And it's fully funded by our college except for our personal shopping expenses of course."
Suddenly there was scraping of chairs back from the table and for a minute I was suffocated by the hugs that came my way. I tapped my uncle's hand, which was almost choking me, "Enough guys, I gotta tell the news to my friends too. Please let me go."
Everyone laughed and then I joined in the laughter too. I think I deserve a bit of happiness too, don't I?
•••••••••
"I have some tea to spill. Don't laugh, I'm warning you", I said to the two girls in front of me. I showed them the email and they collectively gasped.
"So Chicago, huh? Baby seal, you're living our dream," Anika said, her eyes widening.
Nisha squealed and gave me a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you cutie! Go make us proud."
Anika smirked into her coffee mug and wiggled her eyebrows. "And don't forget to send pictures of hot guys while you're there. And yeah, bag yourself a man too. These dating apps you're on are trash."
Nisha and I laughed. It felt like old times, just like when we three were, back in school. But now I stay in Bangalore for college, I get to meet these two idiots only twice a year. Part of the reason I went out of state was to escape from my home. Don't get me wrong, I have a loving family, but most of the time I'm haunted. Haunted by the memories of my brother. Every nook and corner of my house is haunted. I couldn't bear to live there one second longer, so I took the first chance and escaped.
"So who all are going?" Nisha asked.
I shrugged. "Dunno. In the mail, it says about 50 students from different combinations and years were selected. I just hope Ronica and Maithili are selected too."
I met Ronica and Maithili on the first day of my college. And till now we've stuck with each other through thick and thin. I've found a family for myself in Bangalore in them.
Anika beamed. "We are happy for you. Honestly, we thought you would be sitting all alone, friendless in college. But look at you now. So proud of you my dear child."
"Aye, thanks, mommy." I mock saluted. "I'll let you guys know if they've been selected or not."
"When are you leaving for Chicago anyways?" Nisha asked.
I looked at my phone and replied "Umm, the mail says at the beginning of September. So I have four months left to get the necessary documents ready." I added in a conspiratorial tone, "I heard that our college is pulling some strings at the visa office."
I stood up and signaled the waiter to bring the bill. "And yeah, I had a thought last night, " After a pause I said, "It's stupid but then again it's something to do with my brother. But not today. I will tell you guys later."
Anika rolled her eyes, while Nisha said, "C'mon bro, why are you edging us?"
I laughed. "Because I love to tease you guys."
They both smacked me on my head and then laughed. God, I will miss them once my summer vacation is over!
We split the bill and hugged each other goodbye, already making plans for the next outing. It was moments like these that made me feel alive, made me feel grateful to live another day. But a snide voice in my head interrupted my thoughts and said "You should have been the one to die that night. Not Ishaan."
Nice way to ruin things right?
************************************ A/N: Here's the first chapter, it's a bit too dramatic for my taste, but then again what's life without a little drama?
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