She is Not A Terrorist (by Rika)

SHE IS NOT A TERRORIST


The Mackinac Bridge, the bridge connecting The Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan, is the bridge where they met for the first time. It was Sunday afternoon, where the bus she was taking suddenly stopped because of 2 flat tires. Feeling helplessly and desperately needed a ride for an appointment, she waved her hand for any car who would stop and give her a ride. After waving for 5 minutes, a car suddenly stopped and she with her veil and long sleeves blouse, briefly explained her situation and got into the black sedan.
“What’s your name?” asked the man politely.
“Azizah, and you are…..”
“I’m Joe, nice to meet you…..sorry……what was it again?”
“It’s Azizah, a little difficult to pronounce for an American, but you can call me Ziza if in anyway will be easier for you”
“Yeah…it is a bit hard for me, I think “ziza” will do just fine.
“So, ziza, what do you do?”
“I’m a student actually, I’m taking my master degree” “How about you?”
“I work in a private company” “You said you have an urgent appointment?”
“Yes, with my professor, in a coffee shop just up right the next avenue”
“Hm…say….after this can I call you some time?”
………………………………

“Azizah, I can’t believe you’re going to marry Joe, you’ve only seen him for two months”
“I know Cyn, but that is exactly what I should do as soon as possible”
“But, why? I know he’s a nice guy, but don’t you think you guys need more time to get to know each other a little better?”
“Yeah, I’m really aware of that, but in my religion, an unmarried couple is not suppose to be together too long”
“Oh, if you start to talk about religion, I just simply give up, it’s just too complicated for my “simple” life”.
“okay Cyn, suit yourself” “You’re still my best friend anyway”

The gate is now being opened, telling a young couple to enter the residence of Will McCarthy, a well known businessman in town.
“Joe, I’m kina scared”
“Don’t be, I’m right here, you’ll be okay”
“The problem is you haven’t even told them that you’re a Moslem now”
“I know, we’ll do this step by step, okay?”
“But Joe,……”
“You want them to give us their blessing right? Remember, we’ll be together in 2 weeks”
“I sure do, okay here goes, Bismillahirrahmanirrahiim”
”Hey, you only taught me “Bismillah” what you just said was a whole lot longer than that”
“Yeah, the short one is quite okay for a beginner like you, Joe”

The bell is ringing and at this point, her heart is beating much faster as the door is being opened.
“Hi Mom, Dad” “This is Ziza” “and Ziza, they’re my parents, your parents in law to be”
“Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy, It’s really a pleasure to meet you"
The well dressed middle-aged couple can not believe with what they’re seeing right now. A girl dressed in a black long skirt, long sleeves blue blouse, and ………they can’t even define the piece of silk-like fabric covering her hair.
“Mom, Dad, aren’t you going to ask us in?”
“Oh,, yes of course,, come in dear”

In the living room, they still can’t stop staring her strangely, how can his oldest son decided to marry this girl, who dresses this kind of clothes in a hot summer like this. They start to remember all the tragedies that have happened in the past years, especially the WTC bombing in 1993 and as soon as Joe mentioned her place of origin, the Bali bombing that killed hundreds of men also begin to cross their mind.
“Dear, are you really sure to go on with your plan? I mean, you both are still very young”
“She’s 28 years old, Mom and I’m 30 years old. I think, we’re quite ready, don’t you think so too, Dad?”
“I guess what’s your mother is trying to say is that maybe you need some more time”
“I’ve never felt this sure, Dad”
“Sasha, do you wear that …..what do you call it dear?”
“Veil, Mom” and...it's Ziza, not Sasha."
“Right, Ziza, so the veil, you don’t wear it everyday right ?”
“It’s a must in my religion, ma’am”
“It’s just…. I didn’t have any idea that you’re a Moslem, because I’ve heard many times that people like you like to bomb other people who are not like you”
“Mom! I can’t believe you said that to her”
“It’s okay Joe, Mrs. McCarthy, like a Wiseman said “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”, “Those people that you’re worrying about can not represent all of us who wear veil”
“But, most of you are like that, right?”
“Dad!!”
“No, sir, not most of us, only few of us, just like only Few African Americans are violent, only few Cuban sell drugs, only few Indians cut off people’s head, and only few honorable officers Corrupt”
“Say no more, Ziza, we’re out of here”

As they’re driving away, the young couple knows that life will get better eventually.

(By Rika, rikacintara@gmail.com)