“Hello”
“Gayu…this is Alphonsa”
“Yes...tell me dear. From where are you calling?”
“I’m in Kerala now. I have a surprise for you and Radhika.”
“Kerala??? You didn’t inform us about your trip before? What is the surprise?”
“I have decided to marry.”
“Are you joking? You just turned 18 a month back.”
“No.I’m serious. I’m going to become the bride of Christ”
“What?? Alphonsa…do you even realize what you are telling me? You are going to become a nun. You are going to leave us all. You will always live far away from us. Why are doing this to us & yourself?”I cried.
“I always wanted to marry and have my own kids. But God’s plan is something very different. I had visions in my dreams about becoming a nun. People say a very few lucky people experience such kinds of visions. I prayed again and again. I read the verses from Vachanampetty ,it  guides me to  be a nun. ”
“I don’t want to listen anything. Don’t take such a big decision at such a young age. Please wait till you finish college and then decide. Don’t rush into a decision” I pleaded.
“I made my own decision and in my full senses. I can’t undo what has happened. It’s my future and I am happy that I am going to do the right thing by doing service to the poor and needy.”
“But, you can do service to the poor and needy even after marriage. Why do you have to live a life full of sacrifices?”
“Marriage is a beautiful bond. It requires love, care and time for each other. I won’t have time for my service if I’m tied up in a human bond.”
I sobbed and didn’t say anything.
“Gayu…accept it. I’m your best friend and will always be your best friend. We can be in touch via letters and phone calls. I will lead a happy life as it’s my own decision. The sooner you accept, the calmer you will be”, pacified Alphonsa.
 “How will I live without you? First, I had to go away. Now, you are going. I hate whatever is happening with us”, I sobbed.
“Calm down dear”, said Alphonsa.
“Hari has gone away from my life. Now, you are going away. Everyone is going away from my life. Who will guide me? Who will I talk to about Hari? Who will console me? Whom will I tell my secrets?”,I was desolated.
“God will send an angel your way. He will give you what you want. You will not be alone. I will pray for you always. Do pray for me also. I might come to Mumbai next month, we will meet then. Take good care of yourself and be happy. If you miss me badly, then you can contact me on this number. So save it in your phone”
I saved her number and disconnected the call with a heavy heart.
Next day morning, I got a call from another number.
“Hello”
“Gayu…this is Hari”
“Hari..Where are you? “
“I got admission in a college at Australia. They insisted me to join quickly. I didn’t get time to inform anyone about it. I’m sorry.”
“Oh okay”
“I bought a new SIM card today. You are the first person whom I called from my new SIM.”
“Oh… I thought you saw my messages”
“My India number doesn’t work here. So, I didn’t get any messages. Was it something important?”
“No..I simply texted you”
“Okay..Save my new number and keep in touch “
“Yeah…sure”
I smiled unceasingly. There were butterflies in my stomach which tickled my heart and made it laugh in joy. I stepped on the floor and moved around in circles, swung my arms in the air and danced till I was breathless.
“Alphonsa’s words came true. God has sent me my angel. He called me first from his new number. Doesn’t it mean I’m special? “, I thought.
“But will Alphonsa find happiness like me?”I frowned.
I read a verse from Vachanapetty thinking about Alphonsa .

It read :
“ For we are God’s handiwork,created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
                                                                                                                 -Ephesians 2:10

“It was destined to happen and she happily chose it for herself. Hope she finds happiness always in her life”, I prayed for her.
I informed Radhika about Alphonsa’s decision. We decided to meet her the coming month when she would arrive in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, I and Hari had started exchanging texts and phone calls. We grew close to each other in a very short period of time.
30 days rolled away too soon and Alphonsa was in Mumbai. I and Radhika met her. She assured us that she was indeed very happy with her life at Convent and she did not regret her decision at all. We both tried spending our maximum time with Alphonsa. 
One day, I told Alphonsa about how I and Hari were getting close to each other. I told her that I didn’t feel guilty unlike before.
“I’m planning to tell Hari that I love him. We have grown so close in a month’s time. I feel comfortable with him. I think he should know that I love him more than a friend”
“Gayu…do not feel hurt but listen to what I say and then decide”
“Yes.. Tell me”
“To begin with, you have broken a promise which you had made to your mother. Tell your mother the truth before she finds out. She will be hurt if she finds out that you lied to her. I’m sure she will support you as she has always been supportive of you. She might be angry initially but she will calm down after she realizes that you finally told her the truth and did not keep her in dark. The next thing is your age, I know you have loved Hari since childhood but I will insist you to wait till you are independent and then decide. Give some more time for your relationship to develop. Who knows it just plain friendship for him and nothing else. Just wait patiently and observe if he treats you as a good friend or if there is more to it.”
“I will have to develop a lot of courage to tell my mother about Hari. Is there any need to tell her about Hari if this friendship won’t grow any further? I think I will wait and find out if he loves me. I will tell my mother about Hari only if we decide to take it to another level”
“It’s your life and your decision. I just told you my point of view. I’m sorry if I shattered your hopes.”
“Alphonsa…why are being so formal. You are more than my best friend, you are my savior and I trust your advise more than anything else in this World”
I hugged her and tears rolled down our cheeks.
The day of her departure had arrived and Alphonsa had to leave. We all gathered at her house and prayed together for her well being.  I gifted her a sketch of Jesus Christ, hugged her one last time and kissed her good bye.
Hari and his phone calls helped me in recovering from the sadness of missing Alphonsa.  Each and every time I spoke to Hari I was eager to tell him how much I loved him. But Alphonsa’s words stopped me from doing so. Instead, I begin to observe Hari’s words, texts and even voice for the slightest hint of love. I knew he loved me but to what extent was a mystery.
I tried to manipulate my conversations with Hari to find out if he loved me.
“Hari…You know there is a guy in our college. I think I have a huge crush on him…”
“How does he look? Is he a Malayalee?
His responses to my manipulative conversations were always nonaligned.
Our phone calls and texts had started becoming a hot topic of discussion in our families. Everyone assumed their own stories about us.
One day, I found my mother waiting for me outside my room. I was scared; I knew that something serious was going to be discussed.
“Are you both in love?”
“Love ? Who are you talking about?”
“Don’t act so naïve as if you do not know whom I am talking about”
“No..please tell me clearly”
“Are you and Hari in a relationship?”
I stood facing history eye in eye. I had an opportunity again to rectify and undo my mistake. I was quiet for my body had stopped functioning. I had not anticipated this at this moment.  I bowed down my head and closed my eyes. I prayed to God to help me. I finally gained courage and decided to speak the truth.
“No.. we both are not in a relationship yet”
“Yet means what?”
“I love him. I do not know if he loves me too”
“I know it sounds absurd but I would have been relieved if you told me that you both are in a serious relationship and want to marry each other. You are a girl. People are talking things behind your back which are not completely true. You both are just plain friends and people think you are in a relationship. I do not want to break your friendship or encourage you both to be in a relationship. I just do not want to hear bad things about you again. So please understand and behave accordingly.”
I nodded my head and went back to my room. The fire of shame had engulfed my body in flames of embarrassment. I cried because I did not know how else to react in that situation. I decided to talk to Hari about what happened. I dialed his number. He didn’t answer. I called him several times before I tossed my phone in anger.
 Hari called me back many times but I didn’t pick up. I was embarrassed, furious and sad. 
I called him back when I was calmer.
“Hello”, a female voice answered the call.

“Hello”
“Gayu…this is Alphonsa”
“Yes...tell me dear. From where are you calling?”
“I’m in Kerala now. I have a surprise for you and Radhika.”
“Kerala??? You didn’t inform us about your trip before? What is the surprise?”
“I have decided to marry.”
“Are you joking? You just turned 18 a month back.”
“No.I’m serious. I’m going to become the bride of Christ”
“What?? Alphonsa…do you even realize what you are telling me? You are going to become a nun. You are going to leave us all. You will always live far away from us. Why are doing this to us & yourself?”I cried.
“I always wanted to marry and have my own kids. But God’s plan is something very different. I had visions in my dreams about becoming a nun. People say a very few lucky people experience such kinds of visions. I prayed again and again. I read the verses from Vachanampetty ,it  guides me to  be a nun. ”
“I don’t want to listen anything. Don’t take such a big decision at such a young age. Please wait till you finish college and then decide. Don’t rush into a decision” I pleaded.
“I made my own decision and in my full senses. I can’t undo what has happened. It’s my future and I am happy that I am going to do the right thing by doing service to the poor and needy.”
“But, you can do service to the poor and needy even after marriage. Why do you have to live a life full of sacrifices?”
“Marriage is a beautiful bond. It requires love, care and time for each other. I won’t have time for my service if I’m tied up in a human bond.”
I sobbed and didn’t say anything.
“Gayu…accept it. I’m your best friend and will always be your best friend. We can be in touch via letters and phone calls. I will lead a happy life as it’s my own decision. The sooner you accept, the calmer you will be”, pacified Alphonsa.
 “How will I live without you? First, I had to go away. Now, you are going. I hate whatever is happening with us”, I sobbed.
“Calm down dear”, said Alphonsa.
“Hari has gone away from my life. Now, you are going away. Everyone is going away from my life. Who will guide me? Who will I talk to about Hari? Who will console me? Whom will I tell my secrets?”,I was desolated.
“God will send an angel your way. He will give you what you want. You will not be alone. I will pray for you always. Do pray for me also. I might come to Mumbai next month, we will meet then. Take good care of yourself and be happy. If you miss me badly, then you can contact me on this number. So save it in your phone”
I saved her number and disconnected the call with a heavy heart.
Next day morning, I got a call from another number.
“Hello”
“Gayu…this is Hari”
“Hari..Where are you? “
“I got admission in a college at Australia. They insisted me to join quickly. I didn’t get time to inform anyone about it. I’m sorry.”
“Oh okay”
“I bought a new SIM card today. You are the first person whom I called from my new SIM.”
“Oh… I thought you saw my messages”
“My India number doesn’t work here. So, I didn’t get any messages. Was it something important?”
“No..I simply texted you”
“Okay..Save my new number and keep in touch “
“Yeah…sure”
I smiled unceasingly. There were butterflies in my stomach which tickled my heart and made it laugh in joy. I stepped on the floor and moved around in circles, swung my arms in the air and danced till I was breathless.
“Alphonsa’s words came true. God has sent me my angel. He called me first from his new number. Doesn’t it mean I’m special? “, I thought.
“But will Alphonsa find happiness like me?”I frowned.
I read a verse from Vachanapetty thinking about Alphonsa .

It read :
“ For we are God’s handiwork,created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
                                                                                                                 -Ephesians 2:10

“It was destined to happen and she happily chose it for herself. Hope she finds happiness always in her life”, I prayed for her.
I informed Radhika about Alphonsa’s decision. We decided to meet her the coming month when she would arrive in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, I and Hari had started exchanging texts and phone calls. We grew close to each other in a very short period of time.
30 days rolled away too soon and Alphonsa was in Mumbai. I and Radhika met her. She assured us that she was indeed very happy with her life at Convent and she did not regret her decision at all. We both tried spending our maximum time with Alphonsa. 
One day, I told Alphonsa about how I and Hari were getting close to each other. I told her that I didn’t feel guilty unlike before.
“I’m planning to tell Hari that I love him. We have grown so close in a month’s time. I feel comfortable with him. I think he should know that I love him more than a friend”
“Gayu…do not feel hurt but listen to what I say and then decide”
“Yes.. Tell me”
“To begin with, you have broken a promise which you had made to your mother. Tell your mother the truth before she finds out. She will be hurt if she finds out that you lied to her. I’m sure she will support you as she has always been supportive of you. She might be angry initially but she will calm down after she realizes that you finally told her the truth and did not keep her in dark. The next thing is your age, I know you have loved Hari since childhood but I will insist you to wait till you are independent and then decide. Give some more time for your relationship to develop. Who knows it just plain friendship for him and nothing else. Just wait patiently and observe if he treats you as a good friend or if there is more to it.”
“I will have to develop a lot of courage to tell my mother about Hari. Is there any need to tell her about Hari if this friendship won’t grow any further? I think I will wait and find out if he loves me. I will tell my mother about Hari only if we decide to take it to another level”
“It’s your life and your decision. I just told you my point of view. I’m sorry if I shattered your hopes.”
“Alphonsa…why are being so formal. You are more than my best friend, you are my savior and I trust your advise more than anything else in this World”
I hugged her and tears rolled down our cheeks.
The day of her departure had arrived and Alphonsa had to leave. We all gathered at her house and prayed together for her well being.  I gifted her a sketch of Jesus Christ, hugged her one last time and kissed her good bye.
Hari and his phone calls helped me in recovering from the sadness of missing Alphonsa.  Each and every time I spoke to Hari I was eager to tell him how much I loved him. But Alphonsa’s words stopped me from doing so. Instead, I begin to observe Hari’s words, texts and even voice for the slightest hint of love. I knew he loved me but to what extent was a mystery.
I tried to manipulate my conversations with Hari to find out if he loved me.
“Hari…You know there is a guy in our college. I think I have a huge crush on him…”
“How does he look? Is he a Malayalee?
His responses to my manipulative conversations were always nonaligned.
Our phone calls and texts had started becoming a hot topic of discussion in our families. Everyone assumed their own stories about us.
One day, I found my mother waiting for me outside my room. I was scared; I knew that something serious was going to be discussed.
“Are you both in love?”
“Love ? Who are you talking about?”
“Don’t act so naïve as if you do not know whom I am talking about”
“No..please tell me clearly”
“Are you and Hari in a relationship?”
I stood facing history eye in eye. I had an opportunity again to rectify and undo my mistake. I was quiet for my body had stopped functioning. I had not anticipated this at this moment.  I bowed down my head and closed my eyes. I prayed to God to help me. I finally gained courage and decided to speak the truth.
“No.. we both are not in a relationship yet”
“Yet means what?”
“I love him. I do not know if he loves me too”
“I know it sounds absurd but I would have been relieved if you told me that you both are in a serious relationship and want to marry each other. You are a girl. People are talking things behind your back which are not completely true. You both are just plain friends and people think you are in a relationship. I do not want to break your friendship or encourage you both to be in a relationship. I just do not want to hear bad things about you again. So please understand and behave accordingly.”
I nodded my head and went back to my room. The fire of shame had engulfed my body in flames of embarrassment. I cried because I did not know how else to react in that situation. I decided to talk to Hari about what happened. I dialed his number. He didn’t answer. I called him several times before I tossed my phone in anger.
 Hari called me back many times but I didn’t pick up. I was embarrassed, furious and sad. 
I called him back when I was calmer.
“Hello”, a female voice answered the call.