UMAR'S POINT OF VIEW
After coming from Pakistan it was my first job. I was glad that I had found one. I was not much deserving than all the others sitting in the waiting area. But I guess I was lucky to get the job.
I found it easy working here, there was not much burden and the pay was also good. After all it was THE CAROLINE JAMES; the pay had to be good.
The first day at work was normal but at night I received a call from my boss at 10 pm. This was very weird, moreover she asked me to come to a cafe?
I felt really shocked when she started asking me questions about my religion. What was she thinking? Did I look like a mullah to her? Or did she keep me here for her new study about Muslims?
It felt really strange, answering all her questions...
At first I thought she would definitely be doing it for a study. But then I saw the sort of curiosity in her eyes that could not have been for a study or report. It was like she was troubled from the inside.
The way she was asking me questions made me feel like it was really important to her... Why would it be so important for her?
I started to feel a little nervous about the fact that the way she was waiting for each of my answer, with hope and interest, I might say something wrong. I was a Muslim but the questions she asked were very difficult to answer for me. And I had to think before every word. It was probably because I was no maulvi (a person who teaches about Islam).
After I came home I thought about all the reasons, why she was so eager to know about Islam when everybody else in this country leaves no chance to criticize it.
I could not think of any.
The next day was normal in the beginning. I did some of the work she had assigned me and was much busier.
When she came to the office, I was completing the last bit of my work. I was thankful that she called me a little later.
I went inside, she asked me to sit but after asking some questions about the work she again started asking religious questions.
I tried to answer them confidently but then she asked me a question that was a very easy one yet I had no answer.
She asked me the name of any Islamic book store that I knew. I did not know any. I had never read an Islamic book; I was not the sort of a person who reads books.
I felt really embarrassed this time as I did not know how to tell her this. I made a very lame excuse. I hoped that she might question me a little less about my religion after this.
I went to a party that night at one of my colleague's place. It was amazing. The songs were really loud and I could not stop myself from dancing. This was one of the things I loved about staying away from home; you have complete freedom to attend parties.