Premala de Mel’s fiction explores the intricacies of family intrigues and personal relationships based on true real life events of an Indian family. Trapped and Other Tales contains a novel, a novella, and seven short stories set in India, Sri Lanka and Burma. The novel (Trapped) traces the lives of two cousins, children of a privileged family, and the diverse paths they pursued. Premala de Mel’s earlier works include Tales from the Mara and a playlet titled “Cinderkella”, which was staged in Colombo in 2000 and 2001.