Our Love Among Corona

Family Call

Family, your story will not be separated from them. So did our story which then demanded all notices and shock culture on both sides of the family.

"Dad wants to talk to you" said Luky, who was waiting for my answer. I know, he'd love me to talk to his dad. This is not our first talk. He asked me this question before, if I would like to receive a call from his father.

"Mhmmm.I'm nervous" This is the same answer I gave her.

"Dad won't interrogate you. He just wants to get to know you more. Because every time I call him, I'm always talking about you" Luky explained.

"Aren't you going too fast?" I am the one who is not ready. Worried, I am a Muslim, my relationship with Western men had previously run aground because of their family's rejection. Accused of******** by family K, my ex.

"I know what you're thinking. My family is different, they're open-minded, especially my dad. So don't worry" he tried to calm me down.

Like I can read my head. Luky hopes this time I'm devastated and can start this conversation with his family. For him, it was important to introduce me to his family, especially his father.

"With our relationship as lovers, you have become a major topic in every discussion I have with my family. So I hope the main topic I've been talking about comes up in their real lives".

"When is Dad gonna call?" I finally melt.

"Tomorrow, we're planning a call, so at the same time, I can give you two a chance to chat".

"Okay," I replied briefly.

Kuraba. That's where the roar of the bang that just started guerrilla. I will be well received. Maybe it wouldn't be a problem for me if it wasn't accepted, but not with Luky. I thought this would affect him. His relationship with his father was close. Luky has two fathers, a stepfather and a sibling. Both are close to him. The father who wants to talk to me is his real father. I know very well, Luky has a dissident soul amid a strong affection for his family.

It felt like the night had become so short that morning came waiting for the phone to ring. Run, it's overshadowed. I'm not the one who said yes, and then didn't. Luky smiled at me as he handed me his cell phone. This is the time, I thought. Face this bravely, I whispered to myself between the beats of my heart.

"Hey Vashla, how are you?" The voice across there cheers me up.

"Hi dad, I'm good. How about you?" my reply is still doubtful.

Shortly after greeting each other and talking about the weather, our conversation flowed as it was. From light discussions to heavy discussions. Not in spite of the Corona situation and the politics that occurred. My worries ran out one by one throughout our phone calls. The chatter slowly melted away from the start stiffening. At least I was stiff in starting it. He tells a proud story about Luky and his adventures in many countries. He also tells about his life, his wife and the activities of both of them in their daily lives.

Those words stunned me for a moment. Don't know what to say. I'm happy, but also know it's going to be a big commitment in our relationship. Because now, it's not just the two of us, it's family. I'm the kind of person who pays respect to family. For me, no matter how independent I am in every decision I make, there will always be a price to be paid by the family. Be it the price of their release or their involvement.

The conversation with his father Luky turned out to be an early opener of family calls. Who would have thought, the next days in our relationship were filled with calls from two families. Either from his family or my family. We took turns chatting. Every one of my family calls, so Luky Standby there's so many questions coming up. He answered sincerely. Even though this chat lasted a long time because I always had to translate it.

Unlike the call from Luky's family, whose parents speak English. It's much easier because every question doesn't need an intermediary. Except when chatting with his stepfather who was a little stammered. He was always there, helping me to become a translator. Because his stepfather was not fluent in English. After several phone calls from the family, we felt this connection was so quick. Discussions about marriage come, day by day increasingly routine and detailed. I was surprised by our own process.

Just last month we decided to be together, now we are going to the next stage of our relationship. Unmitigated, wedding. Both families gave their blessing. Except my mother gave my blessing on condition. I can only marry a Muslim man.

"I want to be a Muslim, if that's the way". Luky looked at me seriously when he said this. My breath is restrained, for this ill-advised statement.

"Have you thought carefully? You know there's going to be a price you have to pay both from your side of your family and yourself by following my family's religion".

"I've decided it" he continued.

"But we haven't talked about this with your family. Although I know my family started this religious discussion before. Think carefully". I tried not to push him in a hurry to make a decision.

Phone calls from his family have opened up our discussion about life experiences, especially about work, organization and culture. But a phone call from my family has left a large discussion room related to culture and especially religion. Luky and his family chose not to have a religion. He was given complete freedom in religion or no religion. His family was very open, accepting of him and the decisions he made. Even so, it was still important for me to discuss it with the family before he made a decision.

Luky followed my advice, he started discussing this with his father. Furthermore, as I guessed, of course this path is not a path decided by a rush. His father wanted to know more, what happened to Luky. His father wanted to understand why new love could be together after religious unity. He wanted to know, whether this was a compulsion, a necessity or how.

"You say you are an independent woman who can make decisions about your own life. Borrowing your mandirim words, you and Luky should also be independent in deciding to connect without the need or religious obligation. Please explain what happened". His father asked me to give a further explanation regarding this matter.

"I was indeed an independent woman when it was associated with work and several other things. But speaking of family, there are consequences that I always have to consider. Included in this religious affairs when we were about to get married. This is not an easy matter, when it comes to clashing with the laws and norms that govern our society. Especially where I come from". I started to explain slowly.

"I want you both to make decisions independently. Deciding something because you want it is not because of your mother's or your other family's wishes" her father said.

Very understandable message. Leave a discussion between us. Not just with Luky's family, but between us. Among the family phone calls that we constantly receive, there are our own heart calls that we should listen to as well.