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Child Brides of India
By C. Stanton Leman
Chapter 32: A Nanny for Aleeya (Mg ped, rom, cones, no
sex)
Aleeya and I awoke about six, and got up and showered. I
told her to get cleaned up and start getting dressed while
I woke Priya. I went next door and Priya was awake and just
lying in bed on her side crying.
"What's wrong, my beloved, why are your crying?"
I asked.
"I miss you, I miss going to sleep and waking up
with you,
that's all," she sobbed,
I leaned down to her and pulling her up to me, hugged
her
warmly. "Why don't we talk to Aleeya and see if you and I
can have a night together?"
Priya silently shook her head no and replied, "This
is her
week and I'll give it to her, but can you possibly get her
exhausted early one night so we can spend dome time
together?"
I told her, "I'll try, she usually zonks out about
eleven,
but then wakes up again for another round around three am.
I need to talk to you about her anyway. She seems like she
might want to be penetrated. I think she senses that since
I can wedge the head of my dick just inside her hole, she
might be able to fit me in."
"What do you think, can you fit inside her without
hurting
her?"
"That's the thing, I penetrated her with my
forefinger all
the way to her cervix, and she was tight, but not so
restrictive it made it hard to get inside her. I'm not so
sure about my dick though. I personally think it's too
soon."
"If that's how you feel, then just make her wait.
Better
safe than sorry."
"By the way, she gave her first blowjob last
night."
How'd that happen?"
I retold the story and how she'd almost ripped my dick
off,
which was good for a laugh, and how she did. I finished by
saying, "She tried her best, but it was kinda messy at the
end."
"Oh well," Priya joked, "you have to
admire her
enthusiasm."
Laughing, I said, "All things considered, I'd give
her an
"A" for effort. Come on now, get up and get dressed so we
can say prayers. You've got school and I've got work, so
we'd better get going, OK?"
"OK, I'll be over in a few minutes."
I kissed her and left to check on Aleeya. When I got
back
to the bedroom, Aleeya was dressed and ready for prayers. I
told her that Priya would be over in a few minutes.
We talked about the fact that I was going to start
looking
for an "auntie" for her today and that I would make sure
that we all liked her before I made a decision. She seemed
relieved that she would have to give her approval also
before she was left in the care of this person.
Priya arrived and we said prayers as a family and went
down
to breakfast. Breakfast was pretty normal, although Aleeya
was kind of tired from last evening activities. Mom noticed
and asked me, "Have a long night last night?"
I chuckled and turning to Dad said, "It's amazing
how
quickly females learn, she's been giving orders since we
got in the limo on our wedding day. These women require a
firm hand from the very start."
Dad grinned and said, "Yeah, I think its just
nature. They
have this bossy gene, and it kicks it when they say 'I
do.'"
We all laughed, and Aleeya looked up, still chewing, and
with a mouthful of food said, "Huh, what's so funny?"
I said, "Nothing, we were just talking about
genes."
After hugs and kisses, we left to pick the girls up for
school. I asked Priya if Sarah had spoken to Haseeba about
Mahmoud because he'd said he wanted to talk to me
privately, and I surmised it was about her.
Priya said that Sarah told her that Haseeba was
definitely
interested, but again was worried that she didn't want
anything interfering with her plans for college.
I told her that when I spoke to Mahmoud, I'd make this
point clear, and if he didn't want to get involved with a
woman with a higher educational level that his, then it
would be best if he just let it pass.
I asked Priya to find out if Haseeba would want to get
involved with someone below her educational level, because
that could pose a problem down the road. She said she'd try
and find out before classes and call me.
We picked up Sarah and Haseeba, and after dropping the
girls off at school, I headed to the office. When I
happened to mention to one of our account managers, Ravi
Rupak, that I needed to find a Muslim nanny for Aleeya he
was ecstatic.
I asked him why he was so happy and he said his daughter
had just obtained her teaching degree and was looking for
employment. He said his daughter, Monaavi, wanted a job in
the private sector so that she wouldn't have to deal with
any discrimination issues with her being Muslim.
I said to him, "Great, you have my home number,
have her
call me, or better yet, have her call me here today and we
can set up an interview at my home."
He replied, "I'll have her call you this
morning!"
"Sounds good to me," I replied, and we went on
to discuss
the account he was working on, then and I went back to my
office. Priya called me in between classes and said that
Haseeba was open-minded, but that her greatest fear was
revealing her past. I said to Priya, "Are you there with
her now?"
She responded, "Yes."
I said to her, "Let me talk to her." Priya
handed the phone
to Haseeba and she said, "Hi Sean."
"Hi Haseeba," I began, "It's my
understanding that you like
Mahmoud, and are interested in possibly getting to know him
better, but are afraid that if things start to get serious,
you're afraid to have to reveal the truth about your past
to him, is my assessment of things so far correct?"
"Yes," she replied, "I am a coward, and
don't have the
courage to tell him, and if he rejected me, it would be
devastating to me, I just couldn't bear it."
"Has Sarah filled you in on his age, background and
all the
issues concerning Aleeya and his ex wife? And if so, are
you still interested?"
"Yes, Sarah's told me, and I can forgive that if he
can
accept me, but I would never want either of our pasts to
ever be a topic of discussion. If you were to tell him of
mine, and he still wants to pursue me, then, I'd prefer
that there always be a tacit understanding that the past is
the past, and it's buried and done with, never to be
mentioned again."
I said to her, "Well, he's definitely interested in
you, he
wants to talk to me today about you. If you give me
permission, I'll tell him the facts and see how it goes:
either way, do you want me to tell him?"
"All right, but I'll be no good all day until I
find out if
he can accept me."
"I'll call Priya at lunch break, how's that? That's
the
earliest I can let you know."
"OK, I guess that's the best you can do. Thank you
Sean for
looking out for me. I'll say a prayer that someone finds me
worth loving."
"Stop that talk! You ARE worth loving! If not
Mahmoud,
there will be someone for you, you can count on that!"
"Thanks Sean for everything! Call Priya as soon as
you can,
OK?'
"You got it! Let me talk to Priya, please."
"Hello?" Priya asked.
"Priya, I'll talk to Mahmoud and call you as soon
as I have
some news. Say a prayer for her that this doesn't end up
hurting her."
"I will."
"I'll talk to you later, OK? I love you."
"OK, love you more! Bye" Click.
I called for Mahmoud, and he knocked on my office door
about ten minutes later. I invited him in and offered him a
seat. I began with, "I guess you're here to talk about
Haseeba, right?"
"Yes Sean, I am. I think she's a very beautiful
woman, more
mature than Tallie and I believe that we get along well;
she's fun to talk to and to be with. I would like to see if
we could possibly progress to a point where we can fall in
love and get married."
I started out by saying, "You know Mahmoud, that
both of
you have a past, a past that has been filled with mistakes,
great pain and shame. In order to have a good future with
each other, you both need to know what those pasts are;
yours and hers.
To ease the embarrassment to both of you, Priya and
Sarah
have explained to Haseeba that you have had problems with
your marriage in the past and of the abuse of Aleeya by
Tallie. They also told her that you were partly to blame
because you weren't more aware of what was going on in your
home, and that you were dealing with a very young mother
who probably wasn't able to cope with a young child,
struggling to keep a business going and worried about
providing for your family. Haseeba feels that these are
things of the past, she's willing to forgive this and never
ever mention it to you, and she's also willing to see you,
in the hopes of possibly developing a relationship with
you.
I must tell you though, that Haseeba has problems in her
past as well. Whether you accept her past and continue to
see her, or decide you don't wish to pursue her, I must
tell you this and I'll only say it once!
Don't you dare ever say a word about her past, to her or
to
anyone; do you understand?"
"I understand, Sean."
I went on to tell Mahmoud her story and how it ended
with
her sale to a brothel and what she had endured. I told him
that she is so vulnerable because she had tried hard, with
our help, to start afresh to make a new life.
I also told him that she wants to go to college, get her
nursing degree and that if he can accept that and let her
continue to that end, with his support, then she's willing
to try to incorporate a relationship into her life.
I ended by telling him, "She did the things she did
because
she was taught by her father that happiness for her would
only be possible with a wealthy man of means. I think she
tried to obtain that dream with the only means she had: her
beauty and her body.
If you can accept her past and totally ignore it, and
only
see her as the girl you now wish to pursue, then I will
permit you to court her, but I tell you this… in the
future, whether in a argument or whatever, you are NEVER to
mention her past to her - NEVER, AND I DO MEAN NEVER! Do
you understand?"
"I understand Sean, and her past is her past, I
still wish
to court her."
"All right. I'll call Priya and tell her to tell
Haseeba
that you wish to court her. You can contact Adib to set up
your meetings together.
Good luck Mahmoud. You're a good man, with a lot of love
to
give a woman. She's very fragile inside, and you must not
rush her. Treat her gently and tenderly, and she'll open up
to you. She desperately needs the love and acceptance of a
man who will treasure her. In return, she'll give you all
her heart has to give."
"Thank you Sean, thank you for everything. I will
not fail
in love this time. This time, it will be forever."
Jokingly I pointed to the door and said, "Now get
outta
here, get back to work, you're costing me money sitting
here on your ass!"
Laughing, he bowed and replied, "Yes boss." And left the
office.
I called Priya at her lunch break and gave her the news.
She must have had Sarah and Haseeba with her and was
nodding while I spoke because I heard, in the background,
girls squealing out in excitement.
I called Adib and filled him in on everything that had
happened with Mahmoud and Haseeba and that maybe he and
Salima should begin to talk to her about converting to
Islam. He agreed that that would have to take place before
they could marry. Mahmoud could legally, according to
Islamic law, marry a Christian, but not a Hindu. They would
see how she felt about it before letting Mahmoud begin a
courtship.
I told Adib that I wanted a proper Islamic courtship,
chaperoned and Haseeba protected, and he agreed that would
be best. We gave our salaams and hung up.
About two pm, Monaavi called me. She sounded young, and
she
said that she was twenty-two, had just received her
teaching degree and certificate in elementary school
education. She said that besides her work-study as an
assistant teacher in college as part of her certificate
training, she had no formal work experience.
I told her to have her father take some time this
afternoon
to write up a short resume for her and, if possible, be at
my home at eight for an interview.
She was very happy, and said she'd be there at promptly
at
eight and asked if it was required that she be dressed in
fundamental dress. I told her that we are not that
fundamental, and that modest, appropriate dress with a veil
would be acceptable, and she was pleased. I told her I'd
see her at eight, and we hung up.
I called Mom and filled her in on my conversation with
Monaavi, and that she'd be arriving at our home about eight
tonight. I then asked her if she or Pita could take Aleeya
to the park and 'wear her out' so that Priya and I could
have a night together.
She chuckled and said, "You two little fuck bunnies
can't
stay away from each other very long can you?"
I answered, "Shut up Mom, you know too much about
our
private life as it is."
She seemed pleasantly surprised that I'd found an
applicant
so easily. I told her that it was just luck, and we'd see
how it goes.
Having spent the better part of the morning on personal
issues, I really didn't get a whole lot done. I met with
Dad over lunch and filled him in on the day's events.
He was pleased about Mahmoud and Haseeba, his only
concern
was the issue of whether or not it was a little soon for
Mahmoud to be looking for another relationship. I told him
that it was my observation, both from the events that took
place and seeing Mahmoud and Tallie together at the family
functions, there probably hadn't been much there to begin
with.
After lunch, Dad and I went over some of the
international
accounts and he pointed out that some weren't as
forthcoming with payment as others, considering the rush
work they were requesting, and I told him I'd review it and
get back to him on it.
When I picked the girls up from school, they were like a
bunch of giggly girls discussing boys. I curtailed the
giddiness by telling Haseeba that I wanted to speak to her
a moment, and asked if she wanted to do it in private, or
was it OK to talk in front of the girls. She said we could
talk now.
I gave her the condensed version of what I'd told
Mahmoud,
and that I did indeed reveal to him all the sorted details
of her past. She started to cry when I told her that
Mahmoud, although a little shocked at first, said he could
live with it and that he agreed, under penalty of
retaliation by me, that he would never, ever bring it up
again, and that he thought enough of who she is now, that
he wanted to court her.
I said to her, "I will tell you straight from the
heart,
Haseeba, that there are conditions to any further
courtship."
She looked puzzled, and said, "What do you
mean?"
I said to her, "As your guardian, I will allow him
to court
you, but to protect your heart, I am going to require that
this be a Muslim courtship.
First, although you are not a virgin and can marry
anyone
you wish, you asked for my help and protection. A
chaperoned courtship will prevent Mahmoud from making any
unwanted advances of a sexual nature, and I don't want your
future relationship to based on physical attraction. Even
though you're not a virgin, you're starting over and I'm
gonna treat you as though you are virginal and need your
virtue protected.
Secondly, and you need to consider two things; first, if
you fall in love with Mahmoud, he cannot, by Islamic law,
marry a Hindu, so you'd have to convert to Islam. If this
is something you'd like to do, Adib, Salima and Sarah can
help you with that. Also, although you've stated that your
higher educational level wouldn't pose a problem for you,
you are not, and I repeat, not, required to marry an man
beneath your social standing, so that's the other issue you
have to consider.
The best advice I can offer, is that if you wish to
convert
to Islam and marry Mahmoud, you do so with thoughtful
consideration. He has agreed that your continued education
towards a nursing degree is more than agreeable him.
If you wish to be 'courted' by Mahmoud, you will be
chaperoned at all times. Consider the qualities of what you
seek in a future husband, not just if he 'rings your bell,'
so to speak. Make the your decision one you can live with
for a lifetime, do you understand?"
"I understand Sean, and I've never felt so loved,
that
anyone would treat me as a virgin, especially with my past
of incest and fornication."
I told her, "God has forgiven you, and there's a
verse in
the Bible that says when we are forgiven by God, all things
become new. Since the day we took you from that brothel,
you've lived a good and chaste life. As far as I'm
concerned, you're my virginal sister, and I'll treat you as
such."
"Thank you Sean, I will not disappoint you, Priya,
Sarah
and my host family. They have been more loving and caring
to me, and shown me more about the love of God than I knew
existed.
Sarah, Salima and I have been talking of me converting
to
Islam before this issue came up anyway."
"OK then, those are my terms. If you can live with
them,
may the peace and wisdom of Allah guide your heart. We all
love you and only want what's best for you and for you to
be happy."
Once we dropped Sarah and Haseeba off, I told Priya,
"Well,
it looks like my first attempt at matchmaking has turned
out OK so far."
Giggling, Priya added, "Yeah, but the idea of her
being my
"aunt" will take some getting used to."
When we got home, Aleeya was wound up from playing at
the
park, but we managed to get her settled down as we
freshened up for dinner and evening prayers. Having
completed our evening ritual, we went downstairs to eat.
As we sat for dinner, the interview of a possible new
'auntie' for Aleeya was the lively topic of conversation. I
noticed Pita was a little uncomfortable about getting
started serving dinner, so I asked to be excused and went
to the kitchen to talk to her.
Pita is a very quiet, slightly full figured, yet
attractive
and gentle woman of twenty-three. She is very unassuming,
and never speaks unless spoken to. I knew she had a
daughter about Aleeya's age, but she never talked about her
much.
I said to her, "I noticed you're a little
uncomfortable
tonight, is something bothering you?"
She had tears in her eyes, and said, "I'm sorry, it
just my
daughter. She's about to start school like Aleeya, but the
doctor's said she has some sort of illness. Your
conversation about Aleeya starting school made me think of
my daughter's problem."
"What's her problem?" I asked her.
Pita sat on a chair and started weeping. I rubbed her
shoulder and said, "Pita, we care about you, tell me what's
wrong with your daughter?"
Still weeping, she replied, "The doctors said she
has
ausism."
I asked, "Autism? Is that what you mean?"
"Yes, that's it. She doesn't speak too well, and
won't be
able to go to school because she can barely speak. Your
father pays me very well, but I don't have the money to get
her proper, special treatment.
I'm afraid that she'll grow up dumb, and only be able to
do
domestic work like me. I'm very lucky to work for a wealthy
family like yours that pays me more than I could possibly
make elsewhere and we can live a decent life, but it's not
enough."
I had an idea, so I told her, "Here's what I want
you to
do, and I won't take no for an answer. Beginning tomorrow,
I want you to bring her, what's her name?"
"Attiya, her name is Attiya."
"What does it mean?"
"A gift."
"Well, Pita, I want you to start bringing Attiya to
work
with you everyday. She can play with Aleeya, and when we
hire a new nanny for Aleeya, she can also teach and work
with Attiya, do you understand?"
"Oh no sir! I couldn't do that, it's not proper for
a
servant's family to be in the company of their employer's
children, it's just not proper."
"Pita, do you like your job here?"
"Yes sir, very much sir!"
"All right, this is the way it's going to be. If
you do not
show up with your daughter tomorrow morning, and it repeat,
you don't bring your daughter with you, you're fired!"
"Sir?"
"You heard me, either bring your daughter and let
me help
her, or you're fired; which is it going to be? A job and
help for your daughter or start looking for another job,
which is it?"
"How can I ever repay your kindness sir?"
"Do what you do best. Love your daughter and help
my wife
take care of our home and Aleeya, that's all I ask."
"Thank you Sahib, a thousand blessings upon
you!"
Laughing, I replied, "Thanks, I need them! Now, I
think
everyone is getting hungry, so you'd better serve dinner,
OK?"
"Yes sir, right away sir!" With that, she
wiped her eyes
with her apron and began to get dinner.
I returned to the table, and revealed my conversation
with
Pita.
Mom said, "That poor child, I never knew; she never
said a
word."
I apologized to Mom saying, "It may mean a little
extra
work for you until we hire someone, but I didn't think
you'd mind."
Chuckling, Mom said, "Mind? Hell no, I don't mind
at all.
Besides, the biggest problem will be keeping track of two
little urchins!"
Aleeya seemed happy to now have a constant playmate. As
we
talked about Monaavi, my mind was only half in the
conversation. Priya said, "What's the matter?"
I replied, "I'll tell you later."
We finished dinner and went to the living room to wait
for
Monaavi's arrival. She rang the bell about five minutes to
eight.
Monaavi arrived wearing a salwar kaneez of light blue
with
a dark blue veil. We offered our salaams and Pita showed
her to the living room. I think she became a little
frightened and more than a little overwhelmed at the number
of people in the room, so I introduced my parents, Priya
and Aleeya. I read her single page resume, gave it to Dad,
and he passed it to Mom and then to Priya.
Pita brought in some tea and served, but I could tell,
she
was interested (now that her daughter might fall under this
young woman's tutelage). I rose, pulled Pita aside, and
whispered to her, "You may listen from the dining room if
you wish."
She smiled, and replied, "Thank you sir."
I winked and sat back down to join the interview. Priya
began by asking her some questions about the Islamic faith;
and seemed satisfied by her answers.
Aleeya was sitting next to Priya, eyeing her up and
down,
and the two seemed to make a connection because they began
to play a little game with glances and facial expressions,
a good sign.
I asked Monaavi if she had any experience with children
with learning difficulties such as autism. She said that
she's had some, not much, but had noted that these kinds of
children did better with other kids, especially kids that
were of a sensitive nature and more or less acted as
'teacher's helpers.'
Monaavi graduated from a good, respectable teaching
college
with a GPA of 3.85. So I asked her why she felt she
couldn't make a good living in the public sector.
She replied, "Although many are tolerant of my
Muslim
faith, the majority of Hindus in affluent Indian society do
not particularly like a Muslim teaching their children."
I told her I could understand her opinion, and then I
asked, "Since I spoke to you this afternoon something has
come up, and if we hired you for this position, you would
have two students to teach and to act as nanny for."
Pointing to Aleeya, "One of these girls is Aleeya,
the
other is Aleeya's age but is autistic. Do you feel you
could give the required attention to two girls about the
same age, but one with speech difficulties?"
She sat silently for a moment, then replied, "To be
honest,
I've never considered it, but I would be willing to give my
best effort to help both girls on their individual needs."
Everyone seemed pleasantly agreeable with her honesty
and
her willingness not to back away from a challenge, so I
called Pita in and had her sit down and give us a little
history about Attiya.
Monaavi said that although she's no expert on learning
disabilities, it seemed to her that Attiya's autism wasn't
extreme, and that possibly some concentrated work on her
speech might be helpful. I thanked Pita and asked her to
take Aleeya into the kitchen for a snack. Aleeya really
didn't want to leave, but with a stern look from me, she
went.
I asked Monaavi, "We are a Muslim family, and we
practice
the Muslim faith, but I need to ask you some personal
questions, and I would expect you to keep this conversion
private, unless you're hired for this position. At which
time, I will fill your father in on the details. Either
way, what we are about to talk about is private, and is to
remain so for legal reasons, but more importantly, for the
well being of Aleeya, do you understand?"
She nodded and said, "I can be discreet and hold a
confidence. In fact, if I were in your employ, what happens
in your home stays in your home."
"Good. First, may I ask, are you married?"
"No sir, I am not."
"Being Muslim, you do understand that some Muslim
families
are made up of multiple, or 'sister', wives, do you not?"
"Yes, I am aware that some Muslim men have multiple
wives."
"How do you feel about these marriages in a Muslim
household?"
"Although I have no experience with them, what I've
heard
is conflicting. Some say they are very loving and work
well, others say that they are only there for the
gratification of the husband and that the wives are not
treated with equality. To answer your question, I have no
experience to base an informed opinion on, one way or the
other."
I asked her what she knew about me, and she said,
"Only
what my father has told me. That you are very young,
eighteen? Super smart with a doctorate from Princeton. You
are married to a very young Muslim Indian girl, I think he
said," and she looked at Priya, "That you're twelve? And
that you also have a very high IQ and are mature beyond
your years."
Priya nodded and said, "Yes, that's correct."
Monaavi continued with, "And that's about all I
know, sir."
I began again with, "What your father has told you
is all
correct, but something else has happened since my coming to
India."
I went on to tell her about Aleeya, her abuse and the
attachment that she and I had, and that both of our
families decided what we felt was best for her future, both
emotionally and mentally. I finished by saying, "Although
Aleeya is five years-old, she is also my second wife."
Monaavi audibly gasped and asked me, "I do not mean
to pry
sir, but does she share an intimate relationship with you?"
"Yes, I began to explain, "It may not
encompass everything
that's going through your mind, but she does express her
love in our relationship in intimate ways.
I'm telling you this because if you will be her
caregiver
during the day, a certain amount of trust will be placed in
you both by her and by our family. Aleeya may come to
trust you enough to possibly mention her married life to
you in conversations, and I need to know if this will be a
problem for you?"
"I can only say that I will keep an open mind. Just
with
the short interaction I've had with her, she seems happy,
loved and adjusted. The only sadness I feel about brides as
young as Aleeya, is that children of this age are thrust
into adult relationships without love or care for them at
all; they're only used for sexual purposes or as child
slaves.
From only several minutes of observation, this doesn't
seem
to be the case with her. She appeared very attached to her
sister wife, and feels very loved by those around her."
I said to her, "Part of your duties, will be to
help Priya
reinforce in her what her duties are as a Muslim child, and
a girl, and as a wife. Our goal is to keep Aleeya as well
adjusted and normal as possible, even though she is married
and does have an intimate life, do you understand?"
Monaavi answered questionably with, "I'm not sure
how I can
be of any help in this area. I'm not married and I'm a
virgin, so I know nothing about being with a man. How could
I help her to be a good wife?"
I explained myself by asking her, "You're old
enough to
know the mechanics of relationships, what's right or wrong,
how a Muslim woman is to conduct herself, and how to deal
with some adult relational situations and etiquette, am I
not correct?"
"Yes, I guess you're right. I could help instruct
her in
those things, but what if she wants to talk about… sexual
matters, what am I to say?"
"What you know to be the truth. If you cannot
answer a
question honestly, or feel uncomfortable talking of such
issues, just tell her to ask me or Priya."
Mom cut in with, "I know it might be better if you
were
married, and had personal experiences to help guide some of
your answers, but as long as you know that Aleeya likes
being married, and sharing intimate time with Sean, and
that she sees it as an extension of and an expression of
married love, you can understand her a lot better."
Monaavi sighed a deep visible sigh and said, "Well,
I'll be
honest with you…" She paused for a moment, gathering her
thoughts, then continued, "I have never, nor did I ever
expect to meet a married girl so young. I believe that this
can be a learning experience for all of us. If you choose
to hire me, I will treat her as her age. That means, if she
needs discipline, I will give it. I do not believe in
corporal punishment, so she would be given a 'time out' or
the taking away a privilege or treat or something like
that.
I will try my best to help Attiya gain confidence to
speak
more and help her learn, and I will respect Aleeya's place
as a married woman in this home. Is that satisfactory with
all of you?"
Mom, Dad and Priya nodded, and I stood, as did she. I
shook
her hand and said, "How about you start tomorrow? My mother
will help you get acquainted with the house, the timetables
and such. She's been the one caring for Aleeya during the
day. Tomorrow will be the first time we all see Attiya, so
we'll just have to work together and see how it goes. Mom
plans on staying for a few weeks to make sure things get
started off on the right foot. Now, let me call Aleeya in
and you can hear her opinion for yourself, OK?"
"OK."
I yelled into the kitchen, "Aleeya! Come here
please."
Bang! We heard the double swinging door from the kitchen
and around the corner from the dining room came the little
imp, screeching to a halt at the side of my leg.
She wrapped her left arm around my leg and looked up and
said, "Yes husband, what is it?"
Monaavi broke out laughing, and said, "THAT"S
going to take
some getting used to!"
I knelt down and looked into Aleeya's eyes, and said,
"Well, do you think you and Monaavi can be buddies? Would
you like her to be your new 'auntie?'
Aleeya looked up at her for a long moment, then said,
"She's got gentle eyes and a nice smile. I think she'd be a
very nice 'auntie,' don't you?"
I replied, "I think so too, why don't you tell her
you'll
see her tomorrow, OK?"
Aleeya smiled and said to Monaavi, "See you
tomorrow,
'auntie,' and guess what?"
Monaavi gave her wide eyes and with mock surprise said,
"No! What?"
"We'll have a new friend and student! And tomorrow
is my
homecoming party!"
Monaavi smiled and exclaimed, "I can't wait!"
Mom interjected, "We may not really get you started
on your
duties because of Aleeya's homecoming party, but you can
help with the details and set-up, and also get to know her
family in the process, is that agreeable with you?"
"I'd like that. I'd like to meet the rest of her
family,
besides, parties can be fun!"
Mom said, "Good, I think we made a good choice in
hiring
you, Monaavi."
She smiled and said, "Thank you Madam, I'll do my
best to
meet everyone's expectations."
Priya said, "I'm sure you will."
Priya picked up Aleeya and made the rounds as she kissed
everyone goodnight (she even gave Monaavi a kiss on the
cheek) and Priya took her upstairs.
Mom reassured Monaavi that she felt everything would
work
out fine and Dad gave his approval also. I told Monaavi,
"Don't tell your father any of what we discussed tonight,
I'll tell him in my own way and time, is that acceptable to
you?"
She replied, "Yes, but please tell him soon because
he will
want to be involved, as he always is, in my life, and I
wouldn't want to hide things from him… and I will not lie
to him."
I reassured her, "I would never ask you to lie.
I'll talk
to him tomorrow, OK?"
"OK, that's fine. What time do you want me here
tomorrow?"
"If you wish to eat breakfast with us, at nine am,
if not,
then ten am will be fine, it's your choice."
I always eat breakfast with my family, so I'll be here
at
ten, if that's OK."
Fine. See you at ten then."
We said our salaams and I had our driver take her home.
When Monaavi left, Mom, Dad, And Priya (after she took
Aleeya to bed) talked about the interview a while, and Mom
said she felt that Monaavi had the right temperament and
open mind, that she'd probably work out. Everyone agreed.
We called Pita in, and she was in tears when she heard
that
her daughter was going to get some help. Mom told her, "I
wish you'd said something sooner, and we could have done
something before."
Pita profusely thanked us all, then we told her to go
home
to her daughter, and that Monaavi would be here at ten am.
I poked my head in my bedroom door and found Aleeya
zonked
out, asleep and lightly snoring. Priya and I then headed
for the spare room, where she was sleeping this week.
Continued in Chapter 33…
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