Life went smoothly for the world outside but reality was something else, keeping secret about the relationship was tough, suspicion was growing from her side of the family. Her mom started to pay more attention to her, even though she never invaded her privacy by checking her phone that didn't mean she didn't take the note how she went outside every time her phone rang and talked for hours. Staying up late, not letting anyone touch her phone was a clear red flag for her even though she said nothing, yet.
It was Zayd's first birthday with Misti, everyone of her followers knew that she was dating someone so she posted a photo of him at midnight wishing him. She texted with him trying everything to make his day just best for him.
But everything stopped as her elder brother whom she forgot to hide the story from broke the news.
"Maa she is in a relationship. With a Muslim guy."
Misti's POV:
I was chilling watching reels waiting for him to get free so we could talk. In this process I had a verbal fight with my brother over some stupid things, just siblings stuff. But my face went as in spite of anger he revealed something I was trying my best to hide my family from.
"Who's Zayd? Your boyfriend right?
Her head tilted towards me looking at me with disappointed eyes. Before I could even say anything he spoke again. " She is in a relationship with a Muslim guy."
"No he isn't my boyfriend just my brother I made online." Thankfully the photo didn't show his face or the caption included anything really implying who he really was.
"Why would you talk to guys online? Let alone making them brothers." She was really pissed.
"But he is just-."
"You started using Instagram again didn't you? How many times should I tell you, your dad doesn't like it."
I set quietly looking at the floor as my hand clenched my phone tightly.
"Block him. NOW"
"No", I said calmly without looking up at her.
" What did you say?" She stepped forward standing in front of me looking at me with angry eyes.
Looking up making my eyes met hers I replied, "You heard me, maa. I said no."
A sharp pain felt across my left cheek, as my face went to the side. She slapped me. But there was no going back. I stood up to my word, I was a rebel after all likes to challenge everyone.
Maybe it was unnecessary, I could have just blocked him and unblocked him later but I knew the main reason she wanted me to not talk to him even as my so-called "brother". It was his religion. Which I hated the reason the most, she was acting like the stupid society I hated the most but then again she was my mother. All I could do was stand my words.
To be honest I don't actually blame her, she grew up in a small town , where the big area was divided into small villages according to the caste or religion. Even though she too agrees everyone has the right to worship whoever they want and every religion has good or bad people in them. But it's the government and media channels who has fucked up everyone's mind. If a hindu did something they would try their best to hide it from the world as much as possible but if it's someone from the other religion they telecast the religion as if it's religion's fault.
No religion says to hate other religions, hate is a sin. Love is something pure, which any religion you pick tells us to spread. Then why the hate?
I blame the people who started to spread the news it's religion not people. One thing I wanna say to them, respectfully fuck yourself.