Raghav sat alone in his room as Preeti silenced the baby. He realized things around him were changing every day. He pinched his arm a couple of times to wake up in case it was a dream. But it didn't seem like a dream. It was real.
Preeti walked into his room.
"You are still sitting here? Look at your room. What a mess. I can't clean up all this"
She was walking left and right picking up stuff from the floor.
"Preeti, I want to talk to you about something"
"Not now, I gotta get ready. Rina's vaccination slot is at ten a.m. Don't tell me you forgot about that"
"Preeti, please"
She realized something was wrong with Raghav. She walked to him and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Is everything okay dear?"
"Can you tell me about yesterday?"
"What about yesterday?"
"Everything. Everything that happened yesterday"
"I don't remember anything different or special. You went to the lab as usual. I was home taking care of Rina. You were talking about some padded pants for babies that you were working on. To be honest, I don't think it's a good idea. I didn't tell you that yesterday because I thought you'd feel bad"
"Okay. Thanks for telling me all that"
"Is anything wrong? You okay dear?"
"Yeah, yeah. I just need some fresh air"
Raghav walked outside. He realized things had changed again. He was in a different universe now. His life had changed just like it happened the previous day.
"What do I do? Who do I tell about it? Preeti doesn't remember anything, I'm not able to contact Jos–. Wait, didn't Preeti say I work at the lab?"
He immediately pulled out his phone and opened the contacts list. This time, he could find Joseph's name in it. He immediately dialed his number.
"Hello, Joseph?"
"Hey Raghav, what's up?"
"I need to meet you right now!"
"Right now? But I'm at the office"
"It's important, Joseph"
"Is it something serious?"
"Yes, yes it is"
"I'm coming"
***
The two met in a cafe nearby.
"Wait, wait, wait. Let me get it straight. You are telling me you have been jumping through different universes where you have a different life every day?"
"Yeah that pretty much sums it up"
"You realize how ridiculous that sounds, don't you?"
"I know it's hard to believe. But please trust me, Joseph. My wife won't understand me, nobody I remember is the same over here. In my original life, you were my best friend. I don't know how close we are in this universe, but I have a feeling you will understand me"
"I think you are under too much stress. I told you not to work overtime in the lab. You need some rest, buddy"
"No! I can't sleep. Every time I do, I end up in a different universe with a different life"
"How many times has this happened?"
"Twice"
"Only twice and you are assuming you are traveling through the multiverse or something?"
"Joseph, you don't understand"
"Raghav, listen. You need to rest. I think you are not taking your pills properly. Just trust yourself once more. If it happens again, you can find me and I will help you out"
"No, Joseph. In my previous life, I couldn't find you. What if I can't find you in the next one too?"
"Stop overthinking. If you are afraid to go back to your home and face your daughter, you can take a nap at my place"
Raghav hesitantly agreed. He had just woken up before some time, but he wanted to try once more. What if he was just hallucinating? The third time might be the charm.
Joseph gave him a sleeping pill. Apparently in this life, Raghav was on antidepressants. After taking the pills, he immediately fell asleep.
He had a dream where he went back home and played with his daughter. Although he never saw her before, he felt some kind of attachment towards her. She made him feel relaxed and happy. He had never felt so much peace in his life as he felt seeing his daughter's face. Maybe this was the life he needed. Maybe having a baby could make his life happier.
But a dream isn't real. He soon woke up. It was not Joseph's place anymore. He was back in his bedroom. For some reason, he wished he was back in his last life. He wanted to live happily with his wife and daughter.
He slowly walked out of the room. His wife was facing away chopping vegetables in the kitchen. He could hear her humming a song. That was strange as Preeti never did that. And where was the baby?
He also noticed Preeti's voice was slightly different. Did she have a cold? He walked towards her and placed his hand on her shoulder. She immediately turned to face him. Raghav was shocked to see her face.
"Oh hey honey, you up early?"
Raghav didn't reply. He stared at her like a statue with wide eyes. The woman in front of him was not Preeti. It was Meena, the first girl he proposed to when he was in college.