Converting to Islam

Chapter 19

A/N: Hey y'all! Yes I know I haven't updated in ages, and it's because I was travelling during the winter break so I didn't have time to update! So sorry :( But I know that you guys will forgive me since I am lyk so amazing (at least i like to think so...)

_______________________________________

I'm sitting in the dining room of our house, face to face with Tyler's parents, awkwardly examining the tiled floor as they gawk at me.

"So... You're now a Muslim..." Mrs. Mel begins awkwardly.

"Yes," I reply.

"How long has it been?"

"About a month."

"And Tyler's okay with it?"

I am silent. My eyes look towards Tyler who sits on the edge of his seat. I just know he would say no. After all, this was my plan all along: to reveal my religion to Tyler's parents, and end the wedding at once.

"Yes."

Everyone in the room, specifically Mrs. Mel gapes at him, as if he has just announced World War 3. Except what he said is even more unbelievable to me than war. What does he mean by 'yes'? Could he possibly be implying that he's okay with me being a Muslim? He wasn't a few days ago! What is going on? Could there be something that he's hiding?'

He looks down at his hands when his parents start to question him.

"So you still want to continue the marriage?" says his mother.

"You really want to marry a Muslim?" His father adds in disgust.

His eyes never leave his hands. "Yes," he repeats.

"That’s absurd. You must be joking!"

My mother desperately tries to calm her, "Don't worry she's just going through a phase-"

"A phase?! She is sitting in front of me, looking me in the eye and telling me she’s now a Muslim,  and you call that a PHASE?"

My mother is silent.

"MOTHER!" Tyler shouts. The commotion in the room settles to an eerie silence. "Please. It’s my decision, and I have decided I want to marry her,"

The room is silent. All eyes are on Tyler, who has made his confession. Nothing makes sense. What does he mean by that? That jerk. It’s all a lie – it could never be the truth.

My dad awkwardly breaks the silence with a loud cheerful voice, "So...That’s settled!” He pauses for a moment then looks towards Mr. Mel with his head slightly bent; it was all too similar to a slave bowing down to their God. He then asks, “What date would suffice you the most Mr. Mel? I mean for the wedding…?”

"The sooner the better," my mother says butting in.

"In one month."

Once again the layer of silence engulfs the room. All eyes including mine look once again at Tyler in astonishment. What does he mean by one month? Does he mean one month, as in 4 weeks from now? One month from what? It seems as if he is talking a different language that no one understands, for Tyler’s parents just wrinkle their foreheads in incomprehension.

"We should have the wedding in one month," he repeats.

This time it’s my mother who breaks the silence, "Perfect! Next month there’s a holiday, so it would be a perfect time for marriage," my mum says.

"You already have your apartment and are living together. All that's left is to make it official," adds my dad.

Both my parents start blabbering on about arrangements, trying their best to alter Mr. and Mrs. Mel’s minds. After a while they seem to start to agree, and excitement buzzes up in the room. I don't know what to do. What should I say? How can I stop this?

I prepare myself: now is my time to stop this. Slowly I open my mouth, thinking carefully about what I am about to say, "But I don't-"

Immediately, and hand from my left shoots towards me, and firmly grips my shoulders. Another hand attacks my mouth, suffocating me. Unable to speak or move, I look in astonishment towards my left to Tyler, who sits next to me, harshly preventing me from saying anymore.

"But you don't what?" says Mr. Mel in shock.

"Nothing," Tyler says back immediately, silencing my chance of saying even a word of my opinion. My parents continue talking about the arrangements with Tyler’s parents, as I sit suffocated and caged by my future husband.