Maya sat in the backseat of the cab, her head resting against the cool window, trying to let it all sink in. She had done it. She was in the United States, on her way to what would be her new home. SUNY Buffalo lay just ahead--a prestigious place she never thought she'd get to, let alone escape to. Her parents had finally agreed to let her go, though not without conditions. *Marriage as soon as you're done studying,* her father's voice echoed in her mind. But that was just it--she had two years before that could happen, two years to try and mold her life into something entirely her own.
A thrill rippled through her as she looked out at the unfamiliar streets rolling by, every storefront, every tree-lined sidewalk a testament to her freedom. She'd grown up in a world where freedom was rationed, a prize dangled in front of her only to be pulled back each time she reached for it. She was the perfect, obedient daughter, an honors student who spent more time with her books than with people. Friendships were out of reach, and relationships were simply out of the question. She wasn't sure if she knew how to change any of that, but just knowing she could try--here, without anyone watching her every move--was enough.
As the cab slowed to a stop, Maya's pulse quickened. Her new roommate, Tara, would be waiting inside. Tara was everything Maya wasn't--confident, bold, effortlessly cool. They'd met on a WhatsApp group for incoming students, and Tara's pictures were full of adventures and vibrant smiles. Even in those static images, she exuded a freedom Maya could hardly imagine, a self-assuredness that made her the kind of girl who probably turned heads without even noticing.
The house was modest but warm-looking, a two-story building with a peeling green door. Maya paid the driver, fumbled with her bags, and walked up the path. Her hands were shaking slightly as she typed in the code Tara had given her. She stepped inside, setting her bags down gently. It was quiet here, an almost eerie kind of quiet, as if the house itself was waiting to meet her.
Then came the sounds--muffled voices, then laughter, and then something else altogether. Maya froze, heart pounding, as she realized what she was hearing. The moans were unmistakable, rhythmic, loud, filling the space with an intensity that made her feel both embarrassed and strangely entranced. She should've left, gone back outside and waited, but instead, she found herself edging forward, half-disbelieving this was actually happening in front of her. She peered around the corner and saw Tara, tangled with a man--a blond guy--his back to the door, moving with a practiced rhythm that made Maya's cheeks burn.
This is normal here, she told herself, trying to steady her breathing. But everything about it felt strange, surreal. She'd never even held a boy's hand, let alone been this close to... all this. The movies she'd secretly watched on low volume in her room back home had hinted at intimacy, but seeing it in real life, mere feet away, made her feel as if she were crossing some invisible line, entering a world she'd never been allowed to even imagine.
She retreated quickly, stumbling over her own suitcase, and practically fled into her room, closing the door softly behind her. Her thoughts swirled. Was she supposed to do things like that now? Was she supposed to want that? It was a world of questions she'd never been allowed to ask herself, and now they were rushing in all at once.
A few minutes later, Tara found her, freshly composed and positively beaming. "Maya!" she squealed, pulling her into an exuberant hug. "It's so good to finally meet you!"
Up close, Tara was even more striking than in her photos. Her hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and her makeup was subtly flawless, accentuating her deep brown eyes that sparkled with an energy Maya couldn't quite grasp. Maya noticed how effortlessly Tara embodied beauty, a kind of raw, unabashed confidence that seemed to fill the room. And yet... there was something else there, a flicker of something almost too quick to catch. A hesitation, maybe, or an insecurity that didn't fit with the rest of her.
They made small talk, and Tara showed her around the apartment, which felt strangely cozy despite its basic furnishings. Maya nodded along, feeling out of place--not just in this new city, but in her own skin. Would she have to change who she was to fit in here? she wondered. Would she have to become more like Tara?
"Listen, there's a party tonight," Tara said suddenly, her tone casual, but there was a glint in her eyes. "You're coming with me. No debate."
Maya's stomach twisted. A party--on her first night? She'd seen enough high school movies to know what college parties were like: loud music, alcohol, strangers pressing too close, a blur of things she'd only read about. She wanted to protest, but something held her back. This is why I came here, she reminded herself, trying to summon some of Tara's confidence.
---
When the evening arrived, Maya found herself standing in front of a mirror, trying to make peace with her own reflection. Her best outfit--a modest kurta and jeans--looked woefully out of place. Tara took one look at her and, with a smirk, handed her a pile of clothes.
"Pick whatever you want," Tara said. "But you're not going in that."
