The morning sun filtered through the frayed curtains of the small room, illuminating dust motes dancing lazily in the air. Chris’s mind throbbed as he attempted to reconcile the surreal reality that surrounded him. He pushed himself up, the soft bed creaking beneath him, an unwelcome reminder of a body that wasn’t his own. He glanced into the cracked mirror hanging on the wall, his heart racing as he beheld the reflection of a 30-year-old Indian woman staring back at him. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing a face that was both striking and foreign.
Panic surged through him, and he stumbled from the bed, clutching the edges of the dresser for support. The smell of spices wafted in from the kitchen, stirring an ache in his stomach. He didn’t know where he was or how he had arrived, but the suffocating feeling that he was trapped inside someone else’s life clawed at him.
"Wake up, Priya! You’re going to be late for work!" a voice called from outside the door, jolting Chris from his thoughts. He recognized the name—Priya—yet it felt strange to hear someone refer to him with it. The weight of expectations loomed large as he took a deep breath, preparing to step into a reality he didn’t understand.
With hesitant steps, Chris opened the door. A young girl with bright eyes and a mischievous grin stood before him. She looked up expectantly. “You forgot to put your bangles on! You’ll look incomplete without them!” As she rushed past him, Chris caught a glimpse of his—no, her—new life: walls adorned with colorful fabrics, a small shrine gleaming with incense and candles, and the hustle of family starting their day.
“Who… who are you?” he managed to stammer, bewildered.
“I’m Ria, your sister! Now put on your bangles, please,” she urged, her excitement palpable. “We don’t have time for games!”
Chris blinked, trying to process this new reality. “I’m not Priya…” he murmured, though the words felt hollow. He glanced back at the mirror, where Priya’s reflection stared back, her dark eyes filled with confusion but also an unexpected spark of determination. Could he really take on her life—even if just for a day—while he figured out what had happened?