When Zubi woke up, she immediately realised she was on Zoya’s bed.

“That’s weird. I don’t remember falling asleep here,” she thought as she got up.

“Hey! I feel a bit … taller.”

She was just about to take a look in the mirror when she heard her mother’s voice.

“Zubi! Zoo-biiiii!”

She went towards the kitchen, “Yes, mama?”

“What?” asked her mother.

“Well, you were just calling my name.”

“No, I was calling Zubi.”

For a moment Zubi stood there confused. Just then the door swung open and out came a girl who looked exactly like Zubi!

“What’s all this noise?” the girl’s voice sounded like Zoya’s.

“Oh, good. You are up, Zubi,” the mother said as she went back inside the kitchen.

The two girls stared at each other. Then they rushed towards the mirror. There was shock. Then silence.

“It’s a body swap,” said Zoya, who looked like Zubi. “Our bodies have interchanged, just like in the story we were reading last night!”

“Awesome!” Zubi clapped her hands. “Now I’ll get to be you!”

“But it’s not easy being me.”

“I think it is, Zoya baji. All you ever do is give me orders!” Zubi frowned.

“Oh, really? Well, in that case enjoy being me!” said Zoya mockingly.

“So I will!” said Zubi. But little did she realise how things were going to turn out.

“Zoya, please fry an egg for Zubi,” said their mother.

At first, Zoya ignored what she heard, but when she saw her mum staring at her, she realised that she had no choice but to do what she was told.

Zubi went to the kitchen and put the frying pan on the stove, broke the egg and poured its contents on the pan. Suddenly, the kitchen was filled with smoke and burning smell. Zubi had forgotten to put oil in the pan!

Now the egg was burnt crisp black and was sticking on to the pan. Without thinking further, she dumped the hot pan in the sink and turned the water knob on. Off came a swoooosh noise as a cloud of steam hit her right in the face.

“Zoya! What’s gotten into you?!” her mother scolded. “Leave it. I’ll do it myself.”

And so Zubi left with a face red-hot with steam, but more so with embarrassment.

Later at school, Zubi sat struggling in grade seven’s math class. ‘I don’t understand a word!’ she thought.

“Zoya,” she heard the teacher call.

“Y-yes, ma’am?”

“Please solve question number four on the board.”

Zubi gulped. She took the board marker and scribbled for a good two minutes. She had no idea what she was doing.

“Zoya! What’s gotten into you?” the teacher was staring at the board. “Please take your seat and study properly next time.”

Zubi’s cheeks flushed. She heard some students chuckle. It wasn’t so much fun being Zoya after all.

During the break, Zubi’s stomach was grumbling and she was getting very hungry. As she took out her lunch, she felt it being snatched away from her hands. Then she heard a laugh.

The voice sounded mean.

“What’cha got there?” Zubi turned around to find a tall girl standing behind her.

“Um, it’s chicken cheese burger,” Zubi was a bit confused.

“Well, that sounds exactly like what I’m having for lunch today,” the girl laughed again.

“B-but that’s my lunch. Y-you can’t do that,” Zubi’s eyes were getting wet.

“Oh, yeah? Watch me!” the girl opened her mouth wide.

“No! You can’t do that! You can’t!” Zubi was crying and screaming. She reached out to grab her burger but something hit her face and she couldn’t see anything.

“Give it back!” Zubi whimpered.

“Give what back?”

“My burger! You can’t do that!”

“What burger?” this time Zubi realised that the voice was different. It sounded familiar.

When she opened her eyes she saw Zoya sitting next to her. She realised that she was still in her bed.

“Zubi? Are you okay?”

“Zoya baji!” Zubi exclaimed. “You are you! That means I must be me!” She rushed to the mirror and sighed loudly, “Oh! I’m so glad I am me!”

“Um,” Zoya raised her eyebrows. “Are you feeling alright?”

“Don’t you remember Zoya baji? I was in your bed and then I saw you but you were not you and… oh! It was horrible!” said Zubi.

“Really?” Zoya exclaimed.

“Yes! Well, I admit that it is quite difficult being you. I was wrong to assume that your life is easy. I don’t know how you manage everything,” Zubi was out of words.

“I’m glad that you realised it all,” Zoya said while smiling and patted Zubi on her head.

“You had better get up now, Zubi. Your egg is ready!” Zoya paused.

Then she added with a wink, “Oh, and it’s not even a slight bit burnt!”

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 6th, 2019