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Child Brides of India
By C. Stanton Leman
Chapter 29: Aleeya's Wedding (Mgg, rom, cons)
I awoke with Priya still on top of me with her arms
around
my chest. In her sleep, she was still slowly massaging my
dick within her.
I rubbed her back and she awoke, lifting her head and
smiling down at me. She said softly, "You make a wonderful
mattress, I'll have to do this more often," and giggled.
We got up, showered and dressed, and before we started
morning prayers, I said to her, "We're gonna pray fervently
about this matter, and if there's any hesitation at all,
the whole thing is off, do you understand?"
She lowered her head and nodded. We knelt together and
began our prayers. We prayed for almost an hour and when we
were finished, I felt an unusual peace, and Priya looked at
me and said, "Allah has spoken to my heart, and this is
right."
I replied, "I feel the same. Let's go to
breakfast."
The girls had taken that day, Friday, off from school in
preparation for the wedding. We ate breakfast and, as usual
before a wedding, that was the topic of discussion.
Everyone was relaxed and happy, even Priya.
Dad went off to work, but I took the day off. Mom and
Priya
began to get ready to go to Adib's and help Salima and Me
Ma with the last minute preparations.
I called the Imaam and confirmed everything for tomorrow
and then we said our salaams and goodbye.
After everyone had left, I was all alone to reflect on
the
events of my life, and what the future would hold.
I thought, ironically to myself that, at the 'college of
hard knocks', it took much more to earn a degree than
simply memorizing facts from a textbook.
I thought seriously about my faith. Having been raised a
Baptist and later converting to Islam, I agreed within
myself that God, whether He's called Jehovah, Christ or
Allah, were all the same Supreme Being.
I thought about the various figures in the Bible that
were
chosen by God to lead His people, most notably David,
Solomon, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Solomon had over
three hundred wives and concubines with documented
debauchery; David had many, and even stole a man's wife
after he had her husband murdered. Mary, by all historical
accounts was probably only about twelve when she became
pregnant by God's own power.
Throughout the Bible, it's revealed that even men of
God's
choosing had sinned, some more grievously than others. In
the end, they were no more holy or genuinely devout than
Mohammad and his pedophilic marriage to Aisha.
It seemed to me, that God has ways to bring people
together
in His own way when He feels it necessary to do so. I
sensed that His plan (at least my part in it) was to give a
small few love and hope. The most valuable thing every
human being, young or old, holds most precious is that they
are loved. And hope; Hope that that love can move us to
love and save another.
I felt in such awe that there was a God who created the
emotion we call love. It's such an amazingly simple and
powerful concept that even a child who takes its first
breath can understand and yet, so deep and infinitely
complex, scholars the world over cannot define it.
As I pondered these things, I thought of the people in
my
life. My parents, with whom I have always felt loved, and held a
special closeness to my mother. They have, throughout this
whole past several months supported me, helped me, and
their values that had helped me help others.
Priya… all her young life she wanted a love of her own.
She
sought a love that soothed the sting of the slings and
arrows of prejudice and hate. And Aleeya, poor Aleeya; even
at four, she knows what love is, and that it's her God-
given right to be loved.
I thought of my wife, my selfless wife, who truly loved
me
unconditionally. I felt in awe of her. She's twelve years
old, and yet exhibits the wisdom of a queen.
She is so much stronger and wiser than I, and after
seeing
her fears and weaknesses last night, I thought of marriage.
Isn't that what marriage is really supposed to be?
Complementing each other's weaknesses with our own
strengths to shelter each other from the cruelties of the
world?
I was learning fast, as was Priya, that what we thought
our
lives would be like and how we dreamed they would be turn
out, would take twists and turns that would lead us down a
path that neither of us had ever expect to travel.
The more I seemed to realize, the more questions arose
in
my mind. At the end of the day, before everyone was due to
return home, I simply surmised that our path in life was to
try our best to follow God's lead, give as much love and
hope as we could to others in the best way we knew how, and
hope… hope that we've somehow touched people's lives in a
positive way and made a difference in the world.
Everyone got home about the same time. Dad arrived about
five and Priya and Mom arrived about thirty minutes later.
We all went upstairs to get ready for dinner. Priya and I
said evening prayers.
At dinner, Mom said everything was ready at the wedding
hall. Priya said that since there really weren't any guests
from my side of the family, she would play the sister
teasing us with the baton.
Mom said Aleeya was getting a little jittery about
making a
mistake, and not being a good wife at the ceremony. She
said she had told her, "I wouldn't worry about it, Poppy
was crying so much at their wedding he almost said he was
marrying the minister!"
We all laughed and I asked Dad, "You did?"
Chuckling, he said, 'Yeah, I was so nervous, and felt so
much love for your mother I was crying, I didn't repeat the
minister's words correctly. Everyone snickered, and we went
on with the ceremony."
After dinner, we sat and talked a little while about the
wedding and decided it best to go to bed and get an early
start for the next day's events.
The next morning, Priya and I showered together
playfully
and after dressing, said our prayers. Before we went
downstairs, Priya kissed me passionately, and said,
"Promise me that you'll make this day as beautiful for my
sister as you did for me. Be gentle and kind, and above
all, treat her as your wife as you've treated me; with
patience, understanding, and care."
"You have my solemn promise, my beloved." And
I kissed her
again with passion.
I changed into the same wedding garb that I'd worn at
Priya's wedding, and soon we were ready to go.
We arrived at two thirty. The wedding was supposed to
start
at three, but all of Priya's family was there already and
Aleeya was already inside, I didn't even get a glimpse of
her.
When it was time, the band of musicians began to play
and
announce the groom and his entourage as we entered the hall
with Priya poking, teasing and tickling me, as Mom and Dad
followed with her flowered baton.
Everyone was already seated, separated by sexes, as we
entered.
Me Ma brought little Aleeya out from behind a screen and
I
saw her for the first time. I began to cry, she looked so
lovely. She had on a lemon yellow Lengha and matching short
choli with short sleeves that came just below where (on a
grown woman) the bottom of her bust would be, exposing her
midriff, with the same amazingly beautiful embroidery work,
sequins and stones as Priya's had been.
Her head was covered in a turquoise crepe, translucent,
almost transparent dupatta trimmed in lemon yellow with the
same detailed embroidery work, sequins and stones as her
Lengha.
Looking through to her turquoise colored face, she was
smiling ear to ear and she appeared to be adorned with
Priya's wedding jewelry on her forehead, earrings and
necklace. Her tiny feet were encased in turquoise blue
slippers covered in sequins and stones.
Salima placed a wreath of flowers on each of our heads
and
we were led to the area were the ceremony would take place.
Aleeya stood to my left, with Mahmoud to her left and
Priya
stood behind Aleeya, with Dad standing behind me and Adib
behind Mahmoud.
Again, after a litany of prayers and readings from the
Koran, Imaam looked at Adib and said, "Today we will
witness a solemn pledge between Sean Michaels and Aleeya
Haaseem. I ask you now, in the presence of God and this
congregation, to declare your intent."
Mahmoud began, "I have given my only virgin
daughter,
Aleeya Haaseem to Sean Michaels in marriage."
Imaam said to Priya, "As first wife, do you give
your
consent for this marriage to take place?"
Priya to Imaam, "I have given my consent and
blessing with
joy."
Imaam to Aleeya, "Do you accept Sean Michaels as
your
husband with the dower that your father has agreed upon for
you?"
Aleeya replied, "I have accepted and 'spoused
myself to
Sean forever and ever."
Everyone laughed softly, even the Imaam. She should have
said, "espoused."
Imaam to me, "Do you accept Aleeya Haaseem as your
wife?"
I replied, "I have accepted."
The Imaam said to Aleeya, "Do you understand the
duties of
a wife and consent to the consummation of your marriage?"
Aleeya looked at him and said, "Forgive me Imaam, I
do not
know what constumashun means."
Priya stepped between Aleeya and I and bowed to Imaam.
She
said, "Your holiness, I have been the one to instruct
Aleeya about such things. If I may, I will question her and
she will give you the proper consent,"
Imaam to Priya, "You may proceed, but do so with
discretion."
Priya bowed again and answered, "Yes, Imaam."
Priya turned and bent slightly to Aleeya and spoke
clearly
to her for Imaam to hear, "Aleeya. Do you remember me
telling you about your wedding night and the secret things
that husbands and wives do together?"
Aleeya said, "Yes, I remember."
Priya continued, "And that your body belongs to
your
husband and only your husband can do these secret things
with you?"
Aleeya replied, "Yes, only with my husband."
Priya asked her, "And do you understand what some
of these
secret things are and that you want to do them with your
new husband?"
Aleeya nodded and said, "I promise to do all those
secret
things only with my husband. Only he can touch my secret
parts."
Priya smiled at her and looked at Imam for approval; he
nodded.
Imam said, "You have been a very loving and caring
sister,
you have proven yourself to be a true Muslim wife and
faithful teacher to your sister wife."
Priya responded by saying, "All my wisdom has been
given by
Allah. All praise, glory and honor are His, Imam."
Imam responded, "Praise and glory to God."
We finished the formalities with me, followed by Mahmoud
and the witnesses, signing the Nikaahnama.
Imam recited some more readings and then the blessing of
the rings. Rings? I wasn't expecting a ring from Aleeya but
he blessed the necklace that I'd given Aleeya and the ring
Aleeya was giving me. He nodded to me, and I took the
necklace from my dad, and repeated after the Imaam:
"Aleeya, I give you this necklace as a symbol of
our vows,
and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you.
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.
With this ring, I thee wed."
Aleeya then took my ring from Priya and repeated after
Imaam, "Sean, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows,
and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you.
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.
With this ring, I thee wed." She then placed it on my
finger in front of Priya's; they were the same exact rings.
After some more readings, the Imaam finished with,
"In as
much as you have each pledged to the other your lifelong
commitment, love and devotion, I now pronounce you husband
and wife, In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most
Merciful.
Those whom God has joined together let no one put
asunder.
God bless you and this congregation."
Aleeya uncharacteristically stepped up and hugged Imaam
around the legs and said to him, "Today is my birthday!"
He smiled and patted her back and replied, "Happy
Birthday,
little one."
With that, everyone clapped and cheered. All the guests
were separately seated for dinner by sexes, and the women
of Aleeya and Priya's family immediately fetched us both.
We sat and ate the lavish meal, as is the custom, with
music and jovial conversation. After we'd finished eating,
Aleeya whispered something to Priya. Priya came to me and
said that Aleeya was hot and becoming uncomfortable because
of the weight of the bridal clothes. She asked me for
permission to take aside and let her change, and I agreed.
Priya returned with Aleeya dressed in a lavishly hand
painted lemon yellow sari with her head still covered with
her dupatta.
Then, Aleeya and I were snatched up by Aleeya's female
relatives and seated on pillows about three feet apart with
the Koran placed between us. Me Ma said "You remember what
to do, look at her only with the mirror" then moved away.
Under the direction of Imaam, all the women prayed for
me
and offered their salaams and I returned their salaams.
We then stood, and Mahmoud took Aleeya's hand and placed
it
in mine, and said, "Son, I give you my baby girl, I know
you will treasure her always."
Smiling at Mahmoud, I replied, "I will treasure her
for all
of my days."
When it was almost time to leave, Mom and Priya left for
home ahead of us. About twenty minutes later, we were told
we could leave.
Holding my tiny bride's hand, she looked up at me and
smiled. I said to her, "Are you ready to go home and begin
your new life as a married girl?"
She nodded and said, "My dream has come true, and
I'm yours
forever and ever, right?"
I laughed and replied, "That's right darling,
forever and
ever."
We got into the limo to the cheers and clapping of the
family and left for home. On the drive home, Aleeya climbed
up on my lap, mashed her mouth to mine and said, "That's my
first kiss from my husband! And I want lots and lots every
day, OK?"
Laughing, I said to her, "You haven't been married
for two
hours yet and already you're telling me what to do! Are you
taking lessons from Priya?"
She giggled and said, "No, I don't need lessons on
how to
show you how much I love you; my heart already knows that!"
I started giving her little pecking kisses all over her
face and began tickling her. She squirmed; trying to evade
my tickling fingers, and said, "If you make me pee myself,
I'll stick that big, fat cobra in your hand!"
I stopped tickling her and said, "Oops, we don't
want any
cobras on our wedding day."
She sat on my lap the rest of the way home with her head
on
my shoulder and just kept whispering, "I love you husband."
I whispered back, "I love you wife."
When we pulled up in the drive, Mom and Priya were
standing
in the doorway, and Mom was holding the same leather bound
Koran she'd held just moths ago when I brought Priya home.
When the car stopped, I opened the door and went around to
the other side and opened Aleeya's door. I reached in and
scooped her up in my arms and said, "Honey, we're home!"
She giggled and said, "Forever and ever,
right?"
"Right!" I replied.
As we stepped through the door, Both Priya and Mom held
the
Koran over her head. Aleeya being smaller, we didn't have
the near entangling problem we'd had when I carried Priya
across the threshold.
Once in the hallway, Mom kissed Aleeya and said,
"Welcome
to your new life."
Priya kissed her softly on the lips and said,
"Welcome
sister, let us live our lives loving our husband together."
Aleeya looked at her necklace again and said, "I
really am
a wife, aren't I?"
Priya said, "Yes you are, Little One, and a good
wife
you'll be!"
Like a child, Aleeya openly blurted out, "I gotta
pee
really bad," and tore off towards the powder room. We all
laughed and went into the living room.
When Aleeya came into the living room with us, she was
still fumbling with her sari. She finally gave up, crawled
up on my lap and laid her head in the nape of my neck,
kissing me with little pecks. Mom and Priya looked on with
smiles, and Priya said, "Seeing her like this only
reaffirms my belief that this is right in God's eyes."
Mom looked at Priya and said, "I hope you're right
baby, I
hope you're right. We'll see tomorrow morning if she
realizes how much her life is changed forever."
Aleeya was running on pure adrenaline and was still
excited
even after being home an hour. She didn't talk much as the
three of us conversed, but she was openly affectionate with
me and unabashed. She seemed to be the calmest when I just
rubbed her back and occasionally gave her a gentle hug.
I asked her, "Are you tired or sleepy?"
'No,' she replied, "You have a job to do."
We three looked at each other a little surprised,
thinking
she'd made a double entendre, so I said, "What's that?"
She giggled, scooted off my lap onto the sofa and turned
her palms up. I said, "I see, I'm supposed to find our
names, right?"
She gave a quick downward jerk of her head and said,
"Right!"
Because her hands were so small, it only took me about
ten
minutes to find both names. I said to her jokingly, "What
now, am I supposed to take you upstairs and do all kinds of
nasty things to you?"
She suddenly got shy, pulling her shoulders inward and
blushing a light pink, giggled and said "Sister?"
Priya, enjoying her shyness answered, "Don't look
at me,
this is YOUR wedding night. Tell your husband what you
want."
She peeked up from under her lashes with a shy smile and
asked barely audibly, "Are you gonna teach me those secret
things now?"
I smiled softly at her and replied, "If that's what
you
want."
Aleeya looked at Priya, then at Mom, then at me and
whispered, "OK, but don't tell anyone." (Of course Mom and
Priya heard it).
I whispered back, "I won't tell a soul. It's a
secret,
remember?"
She giggled and jumped back onto my lap. I scooped her
up
in my arms to go upstairs. Mom was crying and Priya, with
tears in her eyes, smiled and nodded. I turned and carried
my tiny, five year-old bride up to bed.
Continued in Chapter 30…
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