Will you play fifa with me?

I kept counting the days. Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen… and then, in the blink of an eye, it was the night before their departure. Both of my elder brothers had left for England in pursuit of their futures, and just like that, I was left alone at home. In a single moment, life went from multiplayer to single player.

For the past fifteen years, FIFA had been our thing. All three of us would sit together, console in hand, ready to battle it out. We were all good at it, and every other day we would log in and lose ourselves in the game. Especially with my eldest brother, we would sit back on the couch, controllers ready, and time would just disappear. Four hours would pass without us even realizing, until my sister-in-law would walk in and remind him that it was already five in the morning.

But now they are both gone. And I have no one left to play with. My younger brother is too busy. University in the morning, library in the evening, and then sleep at night. I do not have much time either. I wake up at six in the morning, leave by seven, and do not return until eleven at night. Even then, all I want is to play a couple of games of FIFA. Just to unwind. Just to feel that familiar joy again. And yet, all I am left to say is, “Will you play FIFA with me?” Even though I already know the answer. I already know the disappointment that follows. Still, I ask. Just for a sliver of hope.

It has been more than a month now. And for the past fifteen days, I have stopped playing FIFA alone. I have moved on to GTA.

But it is not the same. And it never will be.