The beeping of my mobile phone opened my eyes. Someone was calling me. I searched for the phone on my bed as far as my hands could reach, but it was nowhere to be found. Then, I realised that the sound was coming from beneath the bed.

I looked down, my eyes half-open, and saw my mobile phone on the floor. I don’t know how it reached there. I don’t remember what had happened the night before. I must have dozed off while scrolling reels.

I grabbed my phone. It was still beeping, so I switched it off without knowing the caller. I closed my eyes but could not sleep. My head was hurting. I cursed the caller, who woke me up. I was drenched in sweat, and my throat was asking for water. I didn’t have water. I felt weak, unable to get up.

It was the hangover of the last night’s party. Clicking photos, singing, eating, drinking, and playing games with friends was a blast, but I remember blanking out late at night.

Someone knocked at my door.

“Why can’t I take a nap?” I murmured to myself.

“Amaya! Are you there?” Nita’s voice said, “I am coming inside.”

When she entered my room, I demanded, “Bring me some food and water. I am dying of hunger and thirst.”

Nita, a so-called good girl, was my parents’ favourite. They often compared me with her. She was a shy and helpful girl. She was good at learning new things. My parents frequently praised her for not going to parties. She was always busy like a nerd, diving into boring books.

We used to be neighbours and childhood friends, so they thought living together might help in this new city far away from home. We also joined the same college.

The door opened, and Nita came in with a plate of food and a glass. She gave me the plate and poured some water into the glass. She also squeezed half-cut lemons into it.

“It will help you cure your hangover,” she said, offering me the glass. I ate silently and admired her cooking skills.

Nita asked, “Did you switch off your phone?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Aunty had called me.” Nita said, “She was worried that your phone was switched off, so she asked me to check if you were okay.”

So, that was Mum who woke me up from my sleep, I thought.

“Why do you ignore them, Amaya? They have been trying to reach you for a few days, and you are ...” she continued after her momentary silence broke. “Is it because they said you cannot have an iPhone right now?”

“Yeah. So?” I defended myself, “They must provide me with what I want.”

Nita’s mobile phone started to ring.

“Aunty is calling,” she said, giving me her phone. I didn’t want to talk to my mum, but Nita had already handed me her phone.

“Hello, my little princess.” Mum said.

“Are you going anywhere?” I asked her, a forced smile on my face.

“No. Tomorrow is my princess’s birthday. Isn’t she excited?”

“What’s there to get excited about?” I wanted to blackmail her, “I don’t have an iPhone to click good pictures.”

“Don’t be so stubborn, sweetie. You already have a well-functioning mobile phone. You know we have a tight budget now. Wait for some more time, dear.”

“All my friends have iPhones, and I feel really ashamed to bring out this cheap phone in their presence. I have to get my photos clicked by others.”

“You will be eighteen tomorrow. It does not suit a young and considerate girl like you to say that. Nitu also does not have an iPhone. Have you ever heard her complaining?”

“Why would one give birth if they could not fulfil their child’s wish?”

“Amaya! Mind your language.” Mum shouted on the phone.

“You will only understand me the day that I die.” I replied, “Then, you will have peace,”

“You are becoming so ungrateful these days. Why would you ...?”

“I wish I were dead by tomorrow,” I screamed and cut the call before mum could finish. I believed that my parents did not care about me.

“Amaya! You should not have done that.” Nitu advised me, taking her mobile phone back, “They love you so much and are trying their best to provide you with the things you want.”

“Oh! Just shut up! Don’t teach me what to do. A nerd like you should mind your own business.” I scolded her.

Nitu left the room without a word. I didn’t care. I picked up my phone and switched it on. The notifications began to pop up on my phone’s screen. Mum had called me five times, and my friends had posted several pictures on their Facebook walls. I was present in many of those pictures.

Only if my parents had given me an iPhone. I would not have to beg others to click my photos and send them to me. Everything just overwhelmed me with sadness, and I started to cry, covered in a blanket.

I drank some beer I had brought from the last night’s party to relieve the pain. I felt that nobody cared about me. There was no point in living anymore.

After a while, I went to the kitchen. My eyes were swollen. My heart was feeling heavy. I grabbed a knife and came back to my bed. I cut my wrist with a knife. I started having blurred vision after a while.

I heard some noise outside and opened my eyes. I got up to check. Oh my god! I saw my mum and dad outside my room. I quickly hid myself behind the door. My parents had travelled the whole night to surprise me with a birthday celebration. My mum was holding a cake, and my dad had a brand-new iPhone box in his hand.

“Oh no!” My mum screamed as soon as she had entered my room, “Amaya!” Dad and Nita also started to scream. I ran towards them. To my horror, there I was, covered in a pool of blood that soaked my bed mattress.

My mum had fainted, and my dad was crying, holding her. I now realised my stupidity. But it’s too late.

“Are you ready to go?”

I turn around. A sturdy man was standing beside me.

“W … where?” I asked in horror, “Who are you?”

“I am here to take you to the place where all the spirits go after they die.” The man spoke, “I don’t know why you youngsters are taking your life so easily. Life is precious, and you get only one chance to live. You realised your mistake too late, kid.”

“No, no, tell me it’s fake, a joke,” I said as I ran before my parents.

I tried touching my fainted mum, but my hand passed through her body. I went in front of my dad’s face and called him. I screamed, but no one was able to hear me.

They were not even feeling my presence. I lay down on my body, hoping to get up again; wishing to get back to life to correct my mistakes, to apologise to my parents and Nita. Although I tried frequently, I could not get my body back to life. I cried and cried, not being able to do anything. Now I knew it was late. Too late.