On an alternate universe

Alternate universes are an interesting concept to think about. The "What ifs" and there are so many. An endless list of hypotheticals where anything could happen and could have happened. I don't know the future yet, but I'd like to tell you about the past.

I'm currently on a flight back from Tucson, Arizona and it's pretty unbelievable to think about the other universes where I exist. Fortunate to be comfortably writing this on a flight to a city I've always dreamt of living in, but what if things were different?

This topic sparked my interest recently with everything going on in Bangladesh. From the fall of the government to the persecution of Hindu Bengalis. There's a lot to unpack here, but I'll give it a go and share my thoughts. Where do I begin? Why do I feel conflicted about all of this?

I was born in Sylhet, Bangladesh and lived there for the first six years of my life. A small city in a small country in the middle of Asia. I don't remember much. I have a small collection of memories that I can piece together, but it's mostly a blur. I've heard stories and seen many pictures of life back home, a privileged middle-class life that I would have had.

My parents worked as a lawyer and teacher. Both comfortable jobs with deep ties to the country. Hearing stories of my grandfather, a teacher and the impact he had on an entire generation. To this date, I'll meet some random uncle/aunt who will tell me that they were taught by him.

Things took a turn in '06 when my family immigrated to Canada. The reason being that my parents wanted to provide a better life for my sister and me. They gave up their roots and dreams that they had to come to another country and start from scratch. Damn.

Since then, I've called Toronto my home and my identity blended into the new life that I would proceed to have. But what if things were different? Should I be here? What if my parents hadn't decided to move across the continent and we had stayed in Bangladesh? In this alternate universe, where would I be and what would I be doing?

There really isn't much that one can do being so far away and with limited resources - beyond sharing the news and being vocal. But is that enough? Is it better to now start wearing my identity on my sleeve? Sharing not only my story, but the story of where I would have been if not for the one decision of two individuals?

I clearly haven't landed on a conclusion, but these are questions I want to explore. Understanding the tough topic of self-identity having been born in a place, adopted its culture then losing its tie. Most importantly, seeing in real time people just like me and the identity I once had being erased from the face of the earth.