Charlotte POV

I am exhausted. More than the word exhausted.

If that makes sense. Of course it should make sense since I am the popular girl. Whatever I tell, it is right. One of the advantages of being popular. I got to use it since being popular is not easy. Not easy at all. With special emphasis on the word "at all".

Right now, I am laying flat with my back on my bed trying to release today's stress. And I need to refresh since I have to attend a birthday  party tonight in Jane's house.

But it's all tiring. Sometimes I wish I was a not-so-popular person. Like my enemy, the dork "Darcy" is her name,  just like her.  Yeah, my dark part inside my heart wants to be like her but my working side of brain know it's a horrible thought because they are just stigmatized.

I exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale it is so refreshin- BEEP!

I switch on my phone to see a notification. In WhatsApp. From Stacey my best friend *cough twice* fake*cough again*. My throat is breaking, I mean paining.  I can tell she is so because she is only interested about hanging around with me.

I open it to see some gossip which has been forwarded.

Andy is seen flirting with Stephanie, the nerd. Today during the last period, he walked up to her and said- I love you, please say,
You love me too,
These three words
They could change our lives forever

The above song starts ringing which I kept as my phone ringtone. I roll my eyes at the coincidence of the caller ID.

I pick up the phone.  What a time Julie, just when it was getting interesting. My another best friend. We have been best friends since primary school even when I was not famous so,  I have no doubt that she is not fake.

I pick up the phone and before I say hello-"*sniffs* Did you just see the latest gossip? About Andy?" she said.

"Yeah, actually I was just reading it"

" I just can't believe it. Andy was supposed to be mine. He chooses that nerd over me? He is so handsome and popular.. and today in lunch too..  Blah blah blah"

I choose to ignore it since she needs someone to rant to. But that "someone" is clearly interested in something else. I try to remember the cafeteria accident.  Stephanie tried to sit beside Andy when Julie was already sitting with him. She tries to start a conversation when Julie out of so-called-irritation, accidentally,  poured lemonade on her shirt.

Stephanie left off crying and Andy went after her. Julie was of course disappointed that he went after her.

It seemed like a real life chick flick. With extra drama as the extra cheese on the pizza. Yeah, I am hungry like a mouse. But don't imagine me as a mouse. It is ugly unlike me.

"kuch kuch kuch kuch " oh yeah,  that girl is still on the phone ranting and I started playing Ariana Grade 's song on my laptop in a low volume so only I could hear. Therefore, I can't make out what she is saying other than -"Lotte, are you even listening?"

" Yes, yes.  Continue" I lied. Something necessary for being popular.

Finally, when I had enough, "My mom is asking something. Later" and I cut the call before she can reply.

Finally some peace. I fall on my bed flat to take some rest when KNOCK KNOCK!

Or not, there is no peace while I am alive. I sigh. I drag myself from the bed and open my door to see Mom there, standing. My lie turned to truth. Just WOW! I am speechless now(notice a new level of sarcasm)

" Can I come in dear?"

"Sure " I open my door fully to let her enter. You will kill me otherwise.

" So,  how is school going?"

" Fine"

" OK,  Hmm.. Lotte, I think we are going to travel"

" Really, where?" It is some wonderful news. I could get some cool pics to show off. Oh my- I can imagine my self on a cool slide or wait... A beach where I would be taking selfies, posting them on Facebook and earning most number of likes.. While swimming...

"To India"

What the-?

"Why are we swimming to India.. No.. What I meant was there something in my ear. I heard it as India"

"Nothing other than earwax is there. To be honest you should clean it.  And yes, you heard it right."

" But.. Why are we going to do there?"

" To visit our relatives"

Visiting relatives is boring.. And that too in India? Mega boring.

" Since, when do our relatives are living in India?"

" Actually, we are Indians living in America"

"OK.. What?" I  am more confused and shocked than a bird landing on a live wire. 

" You see, this is the truth. I am an Indian who came here for business and fell in love with a guy" she said looking dreamily at the ceiling.

" I still remember that day when I met your father. He was so handsome, and was a bad bo-"

" Yeah, yeah, he handsome. So what? I don't need your love story. I want to know how come I am an Indian?" I said breaking mom's loud thoughts in a demanding voice.

" You see, I am an Indian. While your dad is an American. I married in India, but came here to settle "

"But why didn't you tell me before.. "

" Didn't had time.. And I was waiting for the right moment " Yeah, what a moment. You made my day from worse to worst. If anyone hears this, forget popularity, I would be the laughing stock.

"Great! I can't wait" I said. With very high level of sarcasm.

"So, you are thrilled, I know you would be"

"But.. " I face palm that my Mom can't see that I am totally mundane.

"Pack your bags because we are leaving tomorrow.. " she said with excitement in her tone, leaving the bedroom, " To surprise my twin,  your aunt"

"You have a what-?"

Bhavya POV

( Apart from the first dialogue,all the dialogues written are said in the local language, Telugu, but I am writing in English. )

"Ninnu! Niku werae pani emi leda?"
(You! Don't you have any other work?) I said frustrated,  walking home from school.

"Nope" she replied.

I just face palmed.
Ouch! Maybe I used more power than required and now my forehead is paining. I quickly rub it.

Life lesson: Don't face palm in unnecessary situations, if you don't know how to.

"Laksh, listen. I am saying this for the last time. I am not interested about anything related to romance. I HATE ROMANCE" I said to my best friend.

" Come on then, why do you keep watching those romance Bollywood movies?"

"Because I-" I scratched my neck not knowing what to answer. They are actually interesting. " Because my Mom watches them. For some quality family time, we watch it. That's it. " It is true though.

"Aboo!"  (ooh!)she rolled her eyes, pulling a I-am-not-believing-your-lie face.

" Yeah. I am telling the truth. They are not so great either. What happens? The heroine meets the hero, they fall in love, kiss each other and" I was saying, doing my best action of kissing.  With lips in kiss shape and eyes closed, I leaned forward creating a dramatic effect.  "THE END"

"I know I am handsome but you don't have to kiss me" a male voice said.

"What-"

I open my eyes to see Akash standing in directly in front of me and I am in my kissing-the imaginary boy-position. FYI he is my classmate.

I quickly collected myself, with cheeks burning.

"I.. I was just imitating"

Lakshmi and Akash burst out laughing. While I stood there like an idiot.

"I think we have to go" I said dragging Lakshmi by her hand with my head hung low. She was still laughing like crazy.

"Stop it. It was a mistake"

"Yeah, I know. I say, continue like this and you will never get a boyfriend even in college.Mark my words. "

"Which idiot needs  a boyfriend?" I replied waving bye to her.

Oh man! That incident was entirely humiliating. I reached my comfy house. Finally! As usual Fridays, my mom was busy gossiping with the neighbours at the ground floor veranda.

" Oh, Hello Bhavya! Are you coming home from school?" one neighbor  asked.

"Ya"(Yes) No, I am going to school again for afternoon classes🙄

What a lame question. And here comes another. "So how are-"

"Sorry auntie but I have to rest, today has tiring" and I quickly walk away giving them an apologetic smile. As I reach the bedroom, I throw my bag, change my uniform, and jump on the family bed.

Yeah even now I share it with my family. I am grown up for heavens sake. But still I am a baby who can't be alone according to my parents. Seriously?

I lay there flat with my face on the pillow. Today has really been tiring. Especially after the PE class. How is playing cricket related to running around the field??
It is one of the few no.. Many questions I need answer to. Another being about what happens to the density of water below 0°C. I wanted to ask teacher while explaining but I felt too shy all of a sudden.

What if I asked a simple doubt which everyone else know?

Or will they think I am lame to not even know that?

Or maybe I can google it at home.

Third option seemed much better and safer.

And during the PE, after making us do laps around the field for twenty times, Sir sorted us out and we played cricket. Although all I did was roaming around and following my friends instructions since I am no good at it. And I don't even know the rules.

Thank goodness I didn't get to bat or bowl.

That's is how much good I am at sports. Am not I just awesome!

I could feel my socks wet due to sweat from the scorching sun. I barely managed to get energy to climb up to my classroom.

It took me great deal of energy to walk back home. And to survive the embarrassing incident.

I roll on the bed to find a photo album lying on the bed. My mom must have seen it forgot to keep it back on its place.

I open it to see mom's childhood photos. Although there were not many and most of them were black and white, I found it interesting to see Mom as a child. I never saw it before because I was not bothered about it. But now it seems even more interesting than the smartphone.

My mom was just like me at my age. And in the most of the photos someone else was dressed up as my mom resembling her.

If I didn't know better I could have thought it as a twin.

"How do I look?" my mom's voice startled me. Seemed like today's gossip is finished. Believe me, even the news won't cover as much information as the gossip aunties and my mom do.

"Just like me" I said " And who is this girl resembling you? Were you best friends?"

"Yes and no. We are actually blood related"

"Oh, let me guess. Your cousin? Or my attha. No wait.  Odina. No,  my mama, no no no it is for a boy..I seriously don't get relation names in telugu"

Mom just rolled her eyes "It is your aunt and my twin"

"Oh I get it. Wait.. You have a what-?

***

Wow this is getting interesting! *rubs hands* I just can't wait to speak to them and say that there are other audience reading their thoughts and following them. 😼

***

That's it for the first part. If you find anything funny please do comment. I am greedy for comments like a mouse for cheese. JK. But still. Please. I enjoy comments on what are you thinking about this book.
And about the update, it will be after three weeks. Because I have annual exams,  I am going on a hiatus