My Solace

Chapter 1

Alisha

Clothes - ✅

Charger - ✅

Toiletries - ✅

Skincare and makeup - ✅

Shoes - ✅

My packing is done.

"Alisha" I heard my mom yell from the kitchen. Sighing I walked out of the room. All the homemade snacks were spread all over the dining table and those definitely won't fit in my luggage. I'm way over the flight luggage weight limit.

"Maa, I can't carry all these to Salsette Island" I huffed looking at all those yummies. Don't get me wrong, I love all these munchies but blame the airline for having a limits on luggages. I carry heavy whenever I travel because I need everything and if I don't find anything I become hysterical.

"We don't know what kind of cuisine people in that island eat and you are such a picky eater. Will you starve for a whole year?" She asked me keeping on her hand on her waist like a typical Indian mother. I'll miss this. I know I'll be back in a year but still.

"They have Indian cuisine maa, I checked with my supervisor. If I don't like anything I sure have Maggie" I said winking and she sighed. She hates my Maggie eating habit as much as I hate eating hotel food.

"Alisha" My dad yelled as soon as he entered the house. My parents are my world, they love me to death and vice versa. My whole family is amazing. My dad has two brothers and they live right beside our house, my dad is the middle child. His elder brother's house is to our left while his younger brother's house to our right. I'm the only girl in our family, both my uncles have two sons each. So, I'm everyones favourite and trust me when I say they are protective of me, oh they are.

"Is you're packing done? Everyone is waiting in your Anil uncle's house" My dad said walking into the dining room. His eyes grew bigger looking at the munchies my mom has prepared. I'm sure I could feed the whole population in that island with this much food.

I'm a marine biologist. I work for a famous marine biologist Ashwath Singh. He founded a company called "Aqua Life" where I work. He dedicated his whole life to this company and marine life. He has travelled the whole world and researched many aspects in our field. He recently started a venture where he personally handpicks people who move to the Salsette Island for a year to research marine life as its known for its clean ocean and rich aquatic life. He has research institutes based in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai. I got picked from Mumbai base location.

"I'm going papa but please tell maa that I can't carry all these with me. Okay byeee" I skipped past him to my uncle's house. Everyone has gathered in my elder uncle's house to bid bon voyage to me. We always gather there, whenever there is any function since he is the eldest.

There are total of 6 people who are selected for this research. One from Delhi, Two from Mumbai and One from Chennai. One senior biologist and a mentor from Bangalore who will lead this research.

I have grown all loved and pampered by everyone in my family. I love them but I never got a chance to spread my wings and fly. And when I got this opportunity I grabbed onto this with both my hands and won't let go no matter what. This is the time where I can experience life all by my self, my brothers won't be there to protect me. My mom and aunts won't be there to feed me and my papa and uncles won't be there to spoil me and pamper me. I know I sound like an ungrateful child but I've always lived a sheltered life and for the first time in my life I want to enjoy this universe and have an amazing experience of my lifetime.