Prologue

I hate my life.

I find myself fantasizing about a stranger strolling up and offering to trade lives with me, a deal I'd gladly make.

It's not that I'm ungrateful for my family.

Don't get me wrong, my family means everything to me. I'd lay down my life for them in a heartbeat. But sometimes I wonder about myself - what do I actually want? Who am I outside of my familial duties? What does my future hold?

I'm just a girl from India who pours every last drop of blood, sweat, and tears into keeping her loved ones safe. At 22 years old, I still live with my parents and three brothers. We're not well-off, and it's a daily battle just to put a roof over our heads.

I'm the second oldest after my brother Arnav, who's 27. Then there's my second youngest brother Rodas, who's 16, and the baby of the family, little Viraj, who's just 10.

It's my daily duty to do whatever it takes to ensure their safety, even if that means sacrificing my own happiness. But still, the thought of a chance to do more, to see more, to BE more, consumes me.

It's a tough life, but it's the only one I've got.