C A P T U R E D

C H A P T E R O N E

It was a cloudy day with a small breeze but I was unaffected as I sat on the breakfast table chair, allowing an aura of sadness to engulf me. I turned to look at the door and could see my suitcase and bags packed and ready to go in - TEN MINUTES?! I shot up from the chair and paced around the living room in order to calm myself down.

"Right, have you triple checked you've got everything?" My Mum said, walking into the living room from upstairs and sitting next to my Pappa who was reading a newspaper on the sofa - and completely ignoring my pacing.

"Ugh, yes Mum." I droned. This must have been the 170th time she's asked me since yesterday.

"Ok, now come and sit." Oh God. Please, no! Regardless, I sat on the sofa opposite them.

"Listen, we know that you are older now and you're going to University but we just wanted to tell you to be careful. You know, nowadays there are so many-" My Pappa cut her off, putting the newspaper down.

"Listen, Siya, I don't want you to mix with the wrong kind of people. If I even hear a word that you've gone to a party and had alcohol or taken drugs or anything, then I'm going to bring you back here and you can forget about your education and degree. I've warned you now so don't let me down." My Pappa raised his eyebrows.

"Pappa, I can assure that I'm not going to do anything like that." I said, half lying to myself and him.

"Vijay, don't scare her like that." My Mum said and turned back to me, "We just want what's best for you, Siya. Oh yes! Who is your flatmate?"

Crap. So I'd decided to not live in the dorm rooms like a normal university student and and instead planned to live on rent in a flat near the University. Why, you may ask? Because I cannot psychologically prepare myself to live with another human in the same room. So, of course we set out and found a flat and of course it was too expensive for me to live in on my own so I had to wait until the owner found another person to rent out to, which they did, and of course it had to be a boy. I had received the contact  (the phone number of Mr. Mistry (more like, Mr. Mistirious) forgive me for my bad jokes) and the only interaction we had had was through text where we had both given our consent on paying half on all the bills - we had once made a plan to meet up (seeing as we were going to live together) but that was futile due to my car breaking down on the way. So where does the problem lie? Perhaps you missed the fact that this flatmate is in fact a boy (sure, he's Indian but that doesn't make it any better). As if my parents would let me live with a human of the opposite gender - what if I lost my virginity? Or, what if a family member found out and spread it to all of our relatives, way into the depths of India, tainting my family's reputation forever? Or what if my future husband - who my Mum had decided I was going to get an arranged marriage to - found out and I would never get married and had to live with my parents forever as a burden? So I kept my mouth shut when my Mum asked if I had found a flatmate and just said that it was a girl from a local area there. If not, I would have had to find another flat (all of the good ones would have been taken) which I did not have time for so I lied. Not a good way to start your University life if I must say.

"Oh, yeah. I don't know, I haven't really met her, I texted her once or so just to let her know about the bills and whatever." I mumbled. "She seems alright though." So did Mr. Mistry to be honest.

"Oh ok, I hope you get along with her. Anyway, I think it's almost time for you to go. Better start putting your luggage in your car." My Mum said, standing up and I could hear her voice trying to cover up the tears. Why are Indians so dramatic all the time? Must be the TV shows...

I agreed and we put all of my luggage into my black Honda Civic and it was time for the dramatic farewells beside the car.

"We will miss you so much, don't forget us there. And if you ever need anything, just ring us. And come visit us whenever you can. I can't believe my little beti is going off to Uni." My Mum cried (literally). She wrapped her hands around me and hugged me to the point that I couldn't breathe.