During the night in the study room, Mala calls Chris back to back and did not get an answer. She start getting upset and feels Chris should be the one doing all the calling like he used to, but he did not this time. She sighs, and puts the phone down on the floor, and stares at the phone for a second. She picks up the phone and dials his number again. It still rings for awhile and finally he answers.
"I thought I said I needed some time?" He asked.
"Well you best to decide now Chris because I can't wait on you all my life," she said.
"I know but... You know I love you, and I'm sorry for bursting out of your house like that. That was wrong of me, but you know I would do anything for you... But it just hurts to see your parents don't see it that way," he said.
"I accept your apology, and Chris, can I ask you something?" She asked.
"Sure," he said.
"What's your religion?" She asked.
"I don't see what's it has to do with your parents not liking me?" He asked.
"Please just answer the question Chris," she said.
"Well my parents used to be Catholics years ago when I was a baby for awhile then they stopped."
"Are you guys in another religion?" He asked.
"No," she said.
"Do you believe in God?" She asked.
"Look..." Getting cut off.
"Answer the question please," she said.
"Well I believe in God, but we don't go to church or anything like that. Why?" he asked.
"My parents wants you to convert," she said.
"What you mean?" He asked.
"Convert to our religion," she said.
"You gotta be kidding me," he said.
"I'm not joking Chris," she said.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because they feel since you're not into any religion, you should be because they think therapy won't help you, and the only way for you to really heal is through religion, even though I think it's all a bunch of bull shit anyway. I don't care what no one says, therapy helps because it helped me a lot. I mean it gave me a lot of guts to forgive you," she informs.
"Yeah you're right. I think I should give it a shot," he said.
"Really? You would?" Surprisingly.
"Yeah for you," he said.
"Chris, you don't have to join our religion for me, if you say no, I can understand, please don't ever do things just to impress me, do things for you," she said.
"Yeah, but I want to, for my sake, this is my decision," he said.
"Okay," she said..
"So can we talk about your religion and culture? Who do you worship?" He asked.
"Chris, I'm just not realizing what time it is, it is after 2:00am, I gotta get off," he said.
"Aww come on babe, I got all night, we are on Christians break for God's sake, school starts back in three weeks," he said.
"I'm getting exhausted Chris. But let's meet up tomorrow at the library and I can inform you everything about our religion and culture at 12:00," she suggested.
"If we go to the library we would have to talk low, could we meet somewhere else?" He asked.
"What do you have in mind?" She asked.
"I was thinking we can meet and talk in a place called Panda Express downtown, I can buy you lunch?" he suggested.
"What is Panda Express?" She asked curiously.
"Well since I didn't touch your Christmas Chinese dinner, we can eat in a Chinese restaurant which is Panda Express," he said.
"Oh yeah, that would be great Chris, I didn't eat that today, so I will see you tomorrow," she agreed.
"Pick you up at 12," he said.
"Cool, bye, I love you," she said.
"God I love you more," hanging up the phone.
Author Ciara Webb
Story written by Ciara Webb
Co-author Mansi Rupesh More
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