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Child Brides of India
By: C. Stanton Leman
Chapter 73: New Love (MggF, rom, cons, no sex)
The next four months just flew by. Priya, Sarah and
Haseeba
started college and after the first few weeks, settled into
their regular routines. With all three women going to
different schools, they didn't see much of each other
except sometimes on weekends. Priya would arrive home from
school between four and five each day, right before I got home.
Faatina started to stand and was now walking from one
piece
of furniture to another, holding on as she went. She now
ate in a high chair (if you could call the mess she made
"eating") and drank from a sippy cup. She openly called me
Dada all the time now, but because she had so many women
coddling her, she called them ALL "Mama," except my Mom:
she called her "Meme." Whenever she wanted something, or
fell and started to cry, she'd cry out "Mama" and Priya,
Monaavi and Leeya would come running!
Her potty training was spotty: sometimes she'd go,
sometimes she wouldn't. It all depended on her mood. She
had Daddy wrapped tightly around her little finger too! As
soon as I came in the door from work, I'd hear from
whichever room she was in "Dada!" She'd then appear,
crawling like lightening into the hallway to greet me.
I commented to Mom one night that Tina (thanks to Leeya,
we
shortened her name) could climb but wasn't walking yet:
weird. She could climb on a chair or piece of furniture
including the tables but couldn't get down and moaned for
help. I happened to catch her one night trying to climb the
bookcase!
Sometimes, when the girls were at recess, Monaavi would
hold her on her lap and let her pound the keys on the
piano. "Start 'em young," she'd reply.
Dad had returned to the states the month following my
divorcing Tina, but Mom decided to stay and help attend to
my daughter. It had been almost six months and there was
still no sign of Mahmoud, it was as though he'd dropped off
the face of the earth. The Imaam said that after six
months, Haseeba could get a divorce, claiming abandonment
and non-support. So, we just decided to wait it out.
Amaad had allowed Alpa to visit and see her daughter
twice,
each time she wouldn't give Tina any indication that she
was her real mother. Alpa said that she was happy that Tina
was well cared for and loved, and that she didn't want to
confuse Tina by forcing herself on her. She'd hold her and
tenderly kiss her while playing with her. Deep down in her
memory, Tina knew, because she still nuzzled her mother's
cheek when held close. It was sad to see the pain on Alpa's
face, knowing she wasn't there to watch her baby grow up
all over again.
Attiya's aptitude also steadily improved. She was now
reading a first grade primer and her speech was also
clearer and more understandable. On the piano, she was
learning to read sheet music and playing simple songs like
a second year piano student. Every time we heard a song
being played, it was usually Attiya doing the playing.
In November, two things happened that started the wheels
turning, leading up to events that would change our family
forever. The first one came on Monday, the second week in
November, when I'd returned home after leaving for work to
retrieve my briefcase. I entered quickly, evidently not
drawing any attention to my arrival, and as I passed the
study, the girls were quietly working at the table and
Monaavi had removed her veil to readjust it.
Looking into the study, I was stunned! She looked so
breathtakingly beautiful! Standing facing the girls, her
left profile was to me. She stood in an almost statuesque
pose. I noticed for the first time she carried a slender,
young and smallish figure on her five-foot three-inch frame
that didn't draw attention to any one part of her figure
because she always wore her saris loose so as not to reveal
any details. She probably weighed about 115 pounds. Holding
her veil in her right hand, she had her head tilted back,
combing her wavy, almost curly long black hair with her
fingers. Her hair was thick, a blue-black like Priya's and
it hung down to the middle of her back. She had small,
shell-like ears and a gracefully thin neck. I noticed a
small beauty mark just under her left ear. I nearly gave my
presence away with an audible gasp. She was utterly
beautiful!
I quickly retrieved my briefcase and left immediately.
The
rest of the day at work, I couldn't get the vision of her
out of my head. All the fleeting glances at her over the
last few months flooded back from my memory like pieces of
a mosaic that came together to form a complete image: her
large, light brown eyes that were so expressively warm, and
on that day I remembered, were so sultry and smolderingly
sexy. Monaavi has small but full pink lips that issues a
gentle, tender smile. Her small feet, the pinkness of her
sole and toes, her slender, graceful hands and fingers,
that beautiful long black wavy hair… her face reminded me
of a Bollywood actress named Preity Zinta.
I felt guilty about the stirring in my loins at thinking
of
her this way: guilty that I was somehow being unfaithful to
Priya and Leeya by finding the nanny and teacher in my
employ to be so beautiful. I also felt guilty that she was
so innocent and devout and would never have thoughts such
as mine about her employer and that I was somehow sinning
against a devout woman with my impure thoughts.
I couldn't understand how I'd seen this woman just about
every day for months and never really paid attention to or
took notice of her beauty before. I was further confused by
the fact that she was a grown woman, and that reason alone
sparked some confusion. Monaavi was the first adult woman
to ever affect me like this. Second, she was three years
older than I. Most Asian women like to marry an older man.
Hell, most American women do too. I remembered my college
days and how it was nearly impossible to get a girl to even
give me a second look because I was younger than they,
despite my good looks and physique.
I knew that looking at her innocently and devoid of
feeling
would be almost impossible, knowing that now I'd always see
her in a different light, given the close working
relationship we had. I HAD to tell Priya about this,
otherwise it could bring real complications if I withheld
this from her and she deduced it on her own. God! What
would Leeya think… or even Mom?
When I'd returned home from work, not wanting to reveal
what my eyes might betray, I went directly upstairs to
change and get ready for dinner. When I came back
downstairs, Priya and Monaavi were talking in the study as
the younger girls played on the piano. Monaavi seemed
unsettled by my presence, blushingly gave her departing
salaams and left for home.
I wondered… had she seen me looking at her?
Dinner was quiet, with Leeya and Attiya making most of
the
noise and Tina making a mess in the high chair. After
dinner and cleaning the little urchin of the dinner she
decided to wear instead of eat, we put a light jacket on
the baby and both of us donning the same, Priya and I took
Tina for a walk in the cool evening air.
About ten minutes into our walk, I softly said to Priya,
"I
have something I need to tell you."
Interested, Priya said, "Do tell."
"Well," I began, "I left my briefcase
home this morning and
had to come back for it. Anyway, when I returned I don't
think anyone heard me come in. When I walked past the
study, I saw Monaavi with her veil off, readjusting it."
"And?" she asked.
I made a sound like I was clearing my throat and said, "And
I noticed her."
"What's THAT mean Sean?" Priya inquired,
"If you saw her,
you had to notice her. What are you trying to say?"
Struggling to find the right words to put this tactfully
innocent, I answered, "What I mean is, I REALLY noticed
her."
"Oh?" she asked surprised, "What does
"REALLY noticed her"
mean Sean?"
"Whew!" I let out loudly, "You're really,
really turning
the screws on me aren't you?"
"No Sean," she replied, "I'm not. I want
to understand what
you're trying to say but you're being evasive. Say what you
mean."
"Promise me you won't be angry or upset." I
asked.
"I think I know where this is leading," Priya
hinted, "And
no, I won't be angry or upset, just tell me the truth."
"Whew!" I exhaled again, "OK. When I saw
her standing
there, all of a sudden I was stunned and amazed at how
breathtakingly beautiful Monaavi really is."
Shaking her head and with a chuckle replied, "You
know, for
a letch, you sure are blind as a bat! The very first time I
saw her, I thought she was the most beautiful woman I'd
ever seen. Growing up as a little girl, in my dreams I
wanted to look just like her."
We stopped and she turned to me and continued,
"She's got
skin almost as light as yours, she's beautiful, graceful
and elegant. What makes her all the more beautiful is that
she doesn't see it. Her shyness and lack of self-confidence
makes her project a persona of being humble and unassuming.
It's not an act either."
Having revealed the crux of what I wanted to say, I took
courage and tried to explain by saying, "I don't know why
or what it was that made me suddenly see her, after all
these months, as such a captivating woman. I have to admit
to you my Beloved, I find her very desirable."
Priya started to speak but I raised my hand and said,
"No
wait, let me finish. I feel so confused. Confused that
she's our nanny and teacher and in my employ and confused
that she's the first adult woman to ever affect me in this
way. I've only felt this kind of attraction to you and
Leeya. I also feel guilty that because of these feelings,
I'm somehow being unfaithful to you and Leeya. What bothers
me most is, I'm not sure that now I've seen her real
beauty, I can effectively hide it. It's bound to put a
strain on our relationship and I don't want to take away
the positive guiding force in Attiya's and to a certain
degree, in Leeya's life."
"Well," Priya revealed, "Since we're
being honest, I'm sure
you saw Monaavi and I talking when you came home. She saw
you looking at her Sean, but didn't reveal the fact because
she felt embarrassed and didn't want to make you feel
uncomfortable. She also said that although she's not
positive, she thinks you've been observing her a lot
lately."
"Before today," I replied, "It was
innocent, no conscious
thought of seeing her in any other light than a close
family friend and caregiver. Oh God! What am I gonna do
Priya? I don't want her coming to work everyday and
wondering if the "Letch" is ogling her; she'll just leave."
"First of all," Priya said, "I'm not
angry or mad,
surprised perhaps, but not mad. I just find it ironic that
you could see her everyday for nine months and not see the
beauty right in front of you. Maybe you were preoccupied
and blinded by the demon you've been struggling with."
Shaking my head in disbelief I replied, "Jeez! How
did you know?"
"You should know, Sean," Priya pointed out,
"That we are of
one soul and spirit, joined by some invisible force. I
almost know your every thought, just as you know mine.
Although not 100% positive, Leeya and I thought that you
might have considered taking your life the night before you
saw Dr. Gupta. Leeya's no dummy either. We're all
spiritually connected somehow and we sensed a frightening
danger in you that night. Both of us were terrified to open
that bedroom door the next morning, afraid of what we might find."
Tina was getting antsy so we turned for home, started
walking again and continued our conversation. I told her of
the recurring nightmare and how that Wednesday night, the
vision that was revealed to me. I admitted how ashamed I
was of my inner struggle, and why I couldn't face her or
Leeya with the truth because of how I felt about myself. I
also told her I was a second away from slitting my wrist
when Emmy's voice spoke to me, explained the nightmare and
that I had overcome my inner self. I told Priya of the
foretold blessing, why Emmy had to die and about the note
that I'd left and how I'd burned it.
As I was telling her this, she had her face covered with
her hand on her brow, silently crying. Ashamed, I walked in
silence as she cried.
After a few minutes, Priya gave a composing sniffle,
wiped
her eyes and said, "Well praise Allah, that's all in the
past now. You've changed, you know? You're more peaceful
and self assured, especially with Tina. You're an excellent
father Sean, as I always knew you'd be."
"I'm trying Priya," I assured, "I'm
really trying. Despite
all of this, you're still my soul mate and every breath I
take. Leeya too, she's so dear to me. I can't imagine what
life would be like without the two of you in my life. Now
that this issue with Monaavi has come up, I don't know WHAT
to do."
"Up until now," Priya answered, "It has
been me that's
directed our lives: you marrying Leeya and later accepting
the fact that Emmy should join us. I did this with the
knowledge that I truly believed that it was the will of
Allah, but now I have no such direction. You're the head of
this family and now YOU and YOU ALONE must decide what
direction our family will take. I cannot tell you what to
do because I have confidences to keep and will not reveal
them. All I CAN say, is that Leeya and I will follow you to
the ends of the earth into eternity knowing that what you
decide is best for us. I will tell you this though, you
need to make your decision soon. Indecision for more than a
month or so will see things unravel quickly."
"What's THAT mean?" I asked.
"You're pretty smart," she replied
cryptically, "You've got
an IQ of 142, figure it out."
"Well," I responded, "Until I can sort
things out, I'd
rather avoid her than make her feel uncomfortable."
"Suit yourself Sean," Priya stated, "But
remember one
thing. There are people's feelings and futures to take into
consideration. Just keep that in mind."
That statement marked the end of our conversation as we
walked up to the front door. Before opening the door, I
turned to Priya and asked, "What do I tell Leeya about all of
this?"
"Don't worry about Leeya," she advised,
"I'll take care of
her. You just concentrate on what YOU have to do."
Satisfied with her answer, I nodded silently and opened
the door.
The following Thursday would be Thanksgiving back in the
States. Mom wanted Priya, Leeya, Tina, Monaavi, Pita and
Attiya to experience this holiday of giving thanks for all
our blessings. She went online and ordered a turkey, yams
and cranberry sauce along with other trimmings and had it
shipped. She told Pita that she would be fixing dinner and
that Pita could learn how to prepare an American feast.
Monaavi seemed skittish the next few days and left right
after her teaching duties were finished. I had a strange
gnawing in my gut that she was considering leaving because
she seemed to be trying to distance herself a little. I
pondered everything in my heart at work for the next few
days, not accomplishing anything except to think about what
life would be like without this remarkable woman in our lives.
Emmy's words kept ringing in my head: "…She'll
become your
wife and bring an innocent, deep and abiding love to your
family beyond compare. Her love is as pure as the driven
snow and as innocent as a newborn babe. She will give you
what I never ever could."
Over those next four days, as the pieces of the cryptic
puzzle began to fall into place, I said to myself, "It's
GOT to be Monaavi. She's practically like a mother to
Attiya, Leeya and even Tina. She's repeatedly revealed her
dream of becoming a mother. Our family would suffer an
irrevocable loss if she left… and what of Attiya? Monaavi
was her link to salvation and release from her autism.
Having her as my wife and a permanent part of the family
would complete our microcosm of a world."
I almost laughed out loud to myself when I'd decided to
ask
Ravi for her hand, what if she said No? God! The fear of
rejection felt overwhelming! She's older than me, would it
seem like a young boy expressing his fancy to her? Would
she take me seriously? What if she didn't have feelings for
me? Asking her to marry me would make her leave for sure!
And what of Mom and Dad: boy her eyes will sure pop when I
spring THIS question! Dad may have a coronary!
I needed advice. The ONE person who would tell me
honestly,
regardless of how she felt, was my mother. On Friday of
that week, I dialed the house about one pm. Mom answered
and after exchanging greetings she asked, "Sean, why so
formal? Something on your mind?"
"Yeah Mom," I replied, "I'm
struggling."
"Struggling with what?" She asked.
"I need your advice," I said, "What if I
were to ask you, I mean…"
"What Sean, spit it out." she said
impatiently.
"If you," I began, "If you were faced
with a situation
where you felt in your heart that you needed to do
something, and that that 'something' would change the lives
of several people, and if you believed that making this
decision was truly the right thing to do, but you were
afraid of it being rejected and disliked by some people,
what would you do?"
She chuckled and replied, "Well, for being a
brainiac, your
question is kinda convoluted, but I think I get the gist of
it. This decision, do you need to make it right away? By
that I mean, is this one of those situations where there's
only a small window of opportunity?"
"Yes Mom," I answered, "I believe the
window is closing as
we speak."
I heard her sigh on the other end of the phone and she
calmly answered, "Do you remember what I said about the
best opportunities in life?"
"Vaguely," I replied honestly.
"The best opportunities in life are easily
recognizable
once they've been lost. If you feel in your heart that your
decision is for the enrichment and benefit of those
affected, then to hell with what others think: do what you
feel is right. Don't go through life, castigating yourself
that you were weak when it counted most and listened to
your fears or the doubts of others. I like the way Priya
always puts things, "If it's ordained by God to happen, it
shall come to pass." If you're wrong, pick yourself up and
fix it. God holds that gold ring just beyond your reach. If
you want it, it requires a leap of faith. Follow your heart
Son and temper it with the love you have for those close to
you and everything will work out. Just don't go blindly
into the night, make sure your family always comes first."
"It's my family I'm thinking about," I
confided.
"If what you think and feel is right," she
advised, "Then
damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead. Do it!"
"Thanks Mom." I replied, "Now for the
shocker. I think
you'd better sit down for THIS one! Are you sitting down?"
"Yeah," Mom said tentatively, "I'd
ready."
"I need you to have the driver bring Leeya here to
the
office: immediately and as fast as he can. Make whatever
excuse you need to Monaavi but get her here."
"Why do you need Leeya at your office? Why all the subterfuge?"
"Because Mom," I said as I dropped the hammer,
"I'm gonna
ask Ravi for Monaavi's hand in marriage and I need to get
Leeya's approval face to face first."
"OH-MY-GOD!" She gasped, "Do you mean…
Are you… REALLY?"
"Yes Mom," I affirmed, "Really!"
Silence.
"Mom?" I said.
"Mom? Are you there?" I asked.
"Well I'll be damned!" She exclaimed,
"Sean, if she
accepts, this will be one of the most beautiful things to
ever happen to this family! I'm so happy! Monaavi as my
daughter-in-law! God! I can't believe it!"
"Shhhh!" I warned, "She'll hear you! I
need to ask her
father first. She mustn't know anything yet. If he says no,
then it's all over. You just do what you have to do to get
her to agree to come to Thanksgiving dinner, got it?"
"Oh, I got it alright!" she replied joyfully.
"OK" I replied, "Get Leeya here
pronto!"
"Yes sir!" she replied.
"Gotta go Mom," I said quickly, "Got
things to do and fast.
Talk to later. Love ya."
"And boy do I love you Son!" she happily
replied.
Click.
I dialed Priya's cell not knowing if she was in class or
not. She answered and I said, "You need to get here as
quick as you can, I need to ask you something in person."
"Do it Sean!" she exclaimed, "Ask
Monaavi's father for her
hand. Don't wait for me. I've already talked to Leeya about
the possibility and she's just bonkers over the idea. I had
to about tie her up, she was so happy! Your wives want this
as much as you do! Ask him!"
"But," I replied, "I told Mom to get
Leeya here so I could
get her permission in person; Mom's probably hustling Leeya
in the car at this moment."
"I'll call Mom; does she know?" Priya asked.
"Yeah," I answered, "I think she's about
to have a baby
over it!"
Priya laughed and replied, "She can't; that's
Monaavi's job."
"What?" I asked surprised.
"Remember what I asked you about being the first to
have a
baby?" Priya asked.
"Yeah why?" I inquired.
"I've changed my mind," Priya answered with a
giggle,
"Monaavi's twenty-three and wants a baby so bad, she might
get pregnant if you even look at her sexy!"
"I love you Priya," I cooed to her.
"I know," she assured me, "I love you
more. Leeya and I
have been on pins and needles waiting for you to see the
light. Monaavi will make our family complete, Sean. This is
the right thing to do."
"Now all I have to do," I said, "Is to
get Ravi's
permission and hope he doesn't shoot me down in flames."
"Well Sweetie," Priya teased, "You just
might be surprised.
I gotta get to class, good luck! Bye."
Click.
Scared shitless, my hand trembled as I picked up the
phone.
I dialed Ravi Rupak's extension and when he picked up with
hello, I froze and couldn't speak.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" He said blindly into
the phone.
"Uh, yes," I stuttered, "Mr. Rupak could
you please come to
my office?"
"Sean?" Ravi asked, "Is everything OK?
Why so formal?"
"Just come Ravi," I requested, "We'll
speak in a moment."
"Be right there Sean," he replied.
As I waited for his knock on the door, I was suddenly as
scared as a kid who just broke the neighbor's window. My
palms started sweating, I got a dry mouth, and my knees
started to feel weak.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in," I responded (I think my voice
cracked).
"Have a seat please," I offered as I waved to
the chair.
Ravi sat silently for a few moments waiting for me to
speak. He raised his hand to begin talking when I put up my
hand requesting him to wait. I started slowly with "Uhhh."
Good start idiot!
"Uh," I began again, "There's something I
need to ask you
and it's a little difficult."
"Just ask," he said reassuringly, "If I
can, I'll give you
whatever you ask of me."
With THAT, I almost choked! I gave a tentative smile and
said, "I hope you don't regret THAT statement in a minute."
"What is it Sean?" Ravi asked a little
impatiently.
"Here goes," I began, "As you well know,
Monaavi has been
with our family for about nine months now."
Ravi interrupted me and asked, "She hasn't done
anything to
displease you has she?"
"Oh no!" I assured, "Nothing like that!
As I was saying,
Monaavi has been with us a while and my family and I think
of her as part of us."
"Whew!" He said relieved.
"Anyway, this may come as a shock to you, but over
the last
month or so, my feelings for Monaavi have changed."
He looked at me with skepticism and asked, "In what
way?"
"I have fallen in love with your daughter," I
blurted out,
"And I wish to ask you for her hand in marriage."
Ravi slumped back in his chair, looked at me like
"Huh?"
and replied, "Really?"
I silently nodded.
"Let me reassure you," I explained, "My
behavior towards
her has been strictly professional and I know she doesn't
know we are discussing this matter."
Leaning forward in his chair after recovering, he asked
me,
"And what do your wives think about this?"
I chuckled and replied, "They feel that if I don't
marry
her, they might just divorce me: that's how much they love
her and what her to be a part of our family."
I went on to explain the whole sequence of events and
how
much Monaavi truly means to our family and Pita's. I told
him I suspect the she knows I see her in a different light
and seems uncomfortable to continue working under our
current relationship. I told him I didn't know if Monaavi
had feelings for me, and whether or not she'd reject my
proposal of marriage. I just felt that I wanted her in my
life forever and so did my family; that's how important
she's become to us.
He asked if we could call his wife and discuss this on
speakerphone. I nodded and he went to the desk and dialed
the number. We heard his wife say hello and Ravi said,
"You'd better sit down love, we need to talk of marriage."
I heard a gasp and the receiver hit the floor.
"Hello?" Ravi asked.
"Yes Ravi," she replied, "I'm here."
"Sean Michaels has asked for Monaavi's hand,"
Ravi said pointedly.
(Gasp) "What of his wives? What do they say?"
she inquired.
"Well," he responded, "Well, the way Sean
puts it, if he
doesn't marry her, they just might divorce him. They love
her as much as he does."
"Monaavi DOES love his family deeply, do you think
she
might accept?" she asked her husband.
Ravi looked at me and I answered, "I'm not sure
Mrs. Rupak.
What I'd like to do, if I have yours and Ravi's permission
to court Monaavi, is to invite the three of you to dinner
on Thursday evening, at which time I'll ask her in the
presence of our families if she'll agree to an engagement
of marriage. I would make one request, and that is, that
she not be told of this matter until I ask her at dinner."
Silence.
More silence.
"Ravi? How do you feel about this?" she asked.
"Will you give her a child, it's her heart's
desire?" Ravi asked.
"Yes, I will," I affirmed.
"I give my blessing," Ravi answered, "And
you Hindi?"
"I stand with you Ravi," Hindi replied.
Ravi turned to me, shook my hand smiling and said,
"I guess
we come to dinner on Thursday, right?"
Smiling, I assured them by saying, "If Monaavi
accepts,
I'll do all within my power to make her life a happy and
fulfilled one, starting with a child"
"My sweet Lord, a grandchild!" Hindi spoke
through the
phone, "We know you will Sean, otherwise we wouldn't have
given our blessing."
Looking at me with a sly grin, Ravi said, "You
know, it
will be a very interesting six days at home, won't it Hindi?"
She laughed and replied, "Very interesting
indeed!"
Ravi and I offered our departing salaams to Hindi and
disconnected. I called Mom and gave her the news and she
about peed herself with adulation. She said Leeya knew what
was going on and she was afraid the little munchkin would
give it away. I told her I'd see her tonight. I asked her
if she'd asked Monaavi about dinner and she said that
Monaavi was balking and was trying to gracefully say no. I
told her that I'd see to it when I got home and
disconnected the call.
I called Priya and she was just leaving class. When I
told
her, she dropped the phone but I heard an "Eeeek" of joy
before she picked it back up.
After disconnecting with Priya, I turned to Ravi and
said,
"Well, I guess we'll find out how Monaavi feels about all this
soon."
"Well," Ravi smiled and said as he stood,
"I guess I'd
better get back to work since my boss will be my son-in-law."
"Boss hell," I replied, "I think you just
inherited a
percentage of the company!"
"Thank you Son," he laughingly retorted,
"I'd like the
title of President In Charge of Grandchildren!"
"You got it!" I confirmed.
"Well, if you'll excuse me," I said with a
smile as I
grabbed my jacket, "I have to go and try to convince a
certain beautiful young woman to accept a dinner date."
My future father-in-law offered me a piece of advice by
saying, "Let her see your blue eyes and the love you have
for her, she'll melt like butter."
"I'll remember that," I replied, as I walked
out the door.
I arrived home at four thirty. Leeya had a shit-eating
grin
on her face and Attiya was oblivious and playing the piano.
Mom held the secret like a diplomat when I entered. Monaavi
was holding Tina and when my daughter cried "Dada!" Monaavi
turned to look at me.
She lowered her head as I walked to her. I approached
her
slowly looking down also. When I saw she was watching me, I
slowly looked up and into her eyes and I took my child from her arms.
"Hi," I said softly.
Monaavi blushed, looked down and said, "Hi."
"Did Mom ask you to dinner Thursday?" I asked.
"Yes," Monaavi said, "But I wouldn't want
to intrude on
your family holiday, so I must respectfully decline.'
I smiled softly at her and commented, "You know, my
family
and I would be very offended if you didn't come. You've
become like family to us and if you refuse to come, dinner
will be ruined. What's a family dinner without all the
family? In fact, I invited your parents and they're excited
about coming. What will you do, sit home alone?"
Monaavi gave me a coy smile and replied, "You're up
to
something aren't you?"
God her eyes are captivating!
"Who ME?" I asked innocently, "I'm just a
lowly toe sucking
wimp controlled by a houseful of females. You give me too
much credit."
She blushed and giggled and replied, "OK wimp,
since you
put it THAT way and my parents are coming also, how can I refuse?"
Putting my hand to my heart, I bowed and said humbly,
"My
wives thank you, my child and mother thank you and my heart
thanks you."
Monaavi playfully slapped my shoulder, giggled and said,
"Alright, alright, I said I would come."
"Thank you teacher," I answered politely,
"You've made my day."
Continued in Chapter 74…
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