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Child Brides of India
By: C. Stanton Leman
Chapter 74: The Proposal (MggF, rom, cons,)
As Monaavi readied herself to leave, Priya came home.
Monaavi set her things down and asked to speak to Priya
privately. Priya pretended ignorance and we let the two
talk in peace in the living room.
After they had spoken for about thirty minutes, we gave
Monaavi our cordial farewell salaams and she left for home.
Dinner, to say the least, was exciting. Mom was bouncing in
her chair and just kept singing to herself as she ate, "I
just can't wait, Oh I just can't wait!"
She recovered enough from her jubilation to say,
"I'm gonna
call your father after dinner, he'll just shit himself!"
Wondering what THAT vague comment meant, I replied,
"Yeah
can't wait to hear his response!"
Leeya, the little snot, had the cogs turning in her tiny
little head and said, "Well… If you marry Monaavi, she'll
still be my teacher, but she'll be third wife which means
she's under me right?"
"Nice try munchkin," I answered, "She may
be third wife at
night, but during the day she's your teacher and you'd
better listen to her or else."
"Jeez!" She quipped, "Can't a little girl
dream?"
Mom stuck out her hand and said, "See? I'm so
excited I'm shaking!"
"Calm down, Mom," I requested, "She
hasn't said yes yet."
Mom got a look of certainty and stated, "Oh, she
will! You
can bet on that!"
The way Priya, Leeya and Mom talked, I was a shoe-in,
but
deep inside my insecurities kept me anxious with the
possibility of rejection. After dinner was finished, Mom
leapt to the study and the phone. Priya, Leeya and I sat at
the table and talked.
I asked Priya, "Well, if Monaavi DOES say yes, how
is this
going to proceed? I think there'll have to be a courtship
so that we can get to know each other better. She knows a
hell of a lot more about me than I do about her."
"I'm not sure," Priya answered, "Her
mother will probably
want to be around when you two are together, but Monaavi
works here. Maybe Monaavi will end up bringing her mother
to work with her every day, I don't know."
Looking at Leeya, Priya continued with, "To be fair
to
Leeya and I, we could go into that three day rotation. On
our days, things will be the same. On Monaavi's days, you
two can court. Does that seem fair Leeya?"
"I don't mind," Leeya replied, "She ain't
goin' to bed with
him so Sean can still see her on my days as long as he
shares time with me at night."
"Of course I would snot," I retorted, "I
certainly won't be
taking her to bed."
"Yeah but you'd wanna." Leeya observed,
"Will you sperm her
good and put a baby in her tummy?"
Priya and I both laughed and I replied, "Priya's
the boss
and she told me to make her belly as big as this house!"
"Oh goody!" Leeya chimed as she rubbed her
hands together,
"A baby!"
Mom stepped into the dining room and said, "Your
father's
on the phone and he said, "Thank God, at least this one's
legal!" No seriously, he's EXTREMELY happy about it."
Looking at my wives, I replied, "So far so
good."
Leeya left the table to play with Tina as Priya and I
continued to talk. Curious, I wanted to know what Priya and
Monaavi talked about, so I asked, "I had to politely twist
Monaavi's arm to get her to agree to come this Thursday. I
think she only accepted because I invited her parents. What
did you two talk about?"
"I can't really say," Priya noted, "But I
hope she stays
calm enough to stay until Thursday at least."
"What?" I asked in shock, "She's thinking
of leaving?"
"Yes," Priya admitted, "She says it's
becoming harder to
concentrate on work with some of the things that are on her
mind and she feels that she's short-changing the girls by
not being fully focused."
"What's on her mind that she'd want to leave?"
I asked.
Priya sighed and replied, "I can't really say,
Sean. Just
try to keep your contact to a minimum until Thursday, OK?"
"Done!" I responded, "She just can't
leave, not now!"
"Stay calm," Priya advised, "And pray. If
this is meant to
be, it will happen."
Now my insecurities seemed to compound themselves as I
shuddered to think that she'd leave. If she did, I'd get on
my knees and ask her outright before I'd let her get out the door.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights the three of us
fucked
like rabbits. My nuts hurt from cumming so much! I took
turns nailing each wife as she pleasured her sister. The
weekend orgy took its toll on Leeya and she was walking a
little funny when she came down to breakfast on Monday morning.
Monaavi hadn't arrived before I left for work and Priya
and
I both thought she was probably avoiding me. To ease
Monaavi's apprehension, I purposely stayed late to leave for home.
On Tuesday, Ravi came to my office to see me. He asked
if
everything was all right and I told him of my fears. He
laid his hand on my shoulder and said, "I shouldn't be
telling you this, but do you know why Monaavi might be
acting this way?"
"Not a clue," I admitted.
"Now mind you," he began, "I'm just her
father and am only
telling you what I observe, but it seems to me she's deeply
in love with you. I think she believes that her love for
you will always be an unrequited love and it's becoming
increasingly unbearable to be around you, knowing you will
never return her love. Hindi and I are practically forcing
her to come to dinner."
"I hope you're right Ravi," I replied,
"Just two more days."
After my conversation with Monaavi's father, I called
Mom
and suggested that Monaavi take the day off Thursday. That
might ease her stress and she'd be more amenable if she had
time to prepare and get ready for dinner. Mom said that it
would be harder on her because of the kids so I told her
I'd take the day off and play referee.
Tuesday, Monaavi called in "sick." She was
very polite on
the phone but it sounded like she'd been crying. I offered
my encouragement for her to get better, gave my parting
salaams and we disconnected.
When I informed the girls at the breakfast table, they
were
very upset. I asked Priya if she could talk to her and she
said, "I can try, but I'm caught in the middle. I can't
reveal her confidence and I can't tell her why she's got to
be here Thursday. What should I say, Mom?"
"Tell her," Mom started slowly, "Tell her
that she's proven
herself to be very mature and capable woman with her duties
as a caregiver and teacher. Explain to her that we need to
be adult about things and do our very best, even when it's
difficult. Sometimes, we need to put our feelings on hold
for the benefit of the girls. Empathize with her and tell
her you understand that she's going through a difficult
time, but to hang in there: there's light at the end of the tunnel."
"OK," Priya replied, "I'll do my
best."
As she rose from the table to call Monaavi, she said,
"Wish
me luck."
We sat at the table with fingers crossed as Priya spoke
on
the phone. She returned a few minutes later. Priya sat
quietly saying nothing and Mom asked, "Well?"
Priya answered with, "Well, I did as you asked but
she
didn't bite, so I went out on a limb."
"JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH GIRL!" Mom exclaimed
in
desperation, "What did you tell her?"
"I kinda told her the truth," Priya replied,
"But not really."
"Priya Michaels!" Mom said loudly, pointing
her finger,
"Start talking now, out with it!"
"I told her," Priya said, "That Sean
knows she's unhappy
about something and might be wanting to leave, and she said
that she kinda felt that Sean knew something was wrong and
was up to something. So I told her, because he cares about
you so much, he's found another position for you, one more
permanent."
"YOU DIDN'T?" Mom asked in shock, "What'd
she say?"
"She was surprised," Priya responded,
"And she asked me if
I knew what the position was and where."
Mom, rolling her hands in a circle demanding more
clarity,
asked, "And?"
"I told her," Priya answered, "Sean told
me in confidence
and I couldn't reveal his, any more that I could reveal hers."
Mom got a cheese-eating grin on her face, smiled and
said,
"Ohhh, you're gooood girl! A true businesswoman! Nice job!"
"She'll be here tomorrow," Priya said proudly,
"But Sean, I
think you'd better be gone when she gets here, OK? She'll
be off Thursday before dinner, right?"
"Done!" I replied affirmatively, "And
yes, she has the day off."
I think we were all wound as tight as a clock spring and
made a collective sigh.
I left for work right after prayers Wednesday morning
and
was met at the office by Ravi. I invited him into the
office and we sat and talked about business for a moment
until I finally asked him, "Well, how is she?"
He threw up his hands and said, "NOW she's crying
because
you found her another job and doesn't want to leave your
employ! She thinks you want to get rid of her, what'd you tell her?"
Shaking my head at the uncomprehendably fickle nature of
women, I said, "When Monaavi called in sick Tuesday, she
kinda hinted to Priya that she might quit today, so Priya
told her I'd found her a job that was more permanent."
Throwing his head back in laughter, Ravi replied,
"I'll
say! That was a good one!"
I jokingly said to him, "Just do me a favor: do
whatever
you have to do to get her there, even if it's kicking and
screaming, just make sure she shows up!"
Laughing and holding his sides he quipped, "I'll
drag her
in chains and present her to you as a captured slave, how's that?"
Being honest, I quipped back, "You may be her
father, but
that's a very tempting idea!"
"Oh well," Ravi sighed, "Such is the way
to a woman's
heart. Even Mohammad had his troubles with women, why would
we think we are we immune?"
Once we'd calmed ourselves, Ravi warned, "My
Monaavi, she's
as sweet as a desert flower, but she can be a real cactus
at times, but you'll soon find that out soon enough."
Ravi gave a teasing chuckle while I pondered how many
thorns this cactus might display. I told him that dinner
was at seven and he said that was fine. Having finished our
man-to man, Ravi left for his office while I worried about tomorrow.
It was sheer torture waiting around the office until
five
before leaving for home. When I'd arrived home at six,
naturally Monaavi had left for the day. As soon as I sat
down at the table, I asked ANYONE, "Well, how was she?"
Mom smiled and replied, "Ripe for the pickin'! She
told me
she was so ashamed by her behavior and she's terrified that
she'll lose her job. I told her that you had a job that
might be more to her liking and more permanent too. I
sloughed it off by saying that she could always refuse."
"Oh Mom," I said empathetically, "Why
tease her?"
Raising her eyebrows Mom replied, "This was YOUR
plan Sean,
We're just trying to keep the secret long enough for you to
execute it. Think of it as a strategic ploy."
"Damn!" I retorted, "Marrying an adult
woman sure isn't easy, is it?"
With a shit eating grin Mom chided, "It sure ain't
but
we're damn well worth it!"
By Thursday morning, I was so nervous my stomach was in
knots. The girls didn't help matters much either. Tina was
a living terror, getting into everything she could while
Leeya and Attiya, happy about the day off from school, ran
roughshod through the house.
Mom took a break from her meal preparation and sat at
the
table with a glass of iced tea. I commented to her that I
couldn't, for the life of me, understand how women can
control these little she-devils. How does Monaavi do it?
"Well," Mom pointed out, "Just 'cause
they wear panties
instead of boxers doesn't mean they can't be a royal pain
in the ass. In fact, they're probably more so than boys."
"Why's that?" I asked.
"You'll learn," she warned, "when Tina
gets older. With a
boy, you only have one dick to worry about. With a girl,
you gotta worry about ALL of 'em."
"Gee Mom," I replied, "Just what I needed
to hear."
"As pretty as that little girl is," Mom added,
"You'll be
beatin 'em away with a stick!"
Getting serious, I revealed, "I'm scared Mom, I'm
afraid
I'll make a huge mess of things and blow it."
"Ah don't be," Mom said, "Just say what's
in your heart,
she's dying to hear it; she's probably dreamt of hearing
those words every night when she goes to bed."
"You really think so Mom?" I inquired.
"Trust me Son," Mom encouraged, "This is
gonna happen."
"I hope you're right," I replied, "I
fervently hope you're right."
"I'd better get back and check on the turkey,"
Mom said as
she rose, "It's four O'clock: maybe you should get the two
older girls in the tub and dressed so you can give Tina her
bath. You gotta get ready too, lover boy: don't want to
make a stinking impression do ya?"
"No Momma," I replied boyishly, "I'll
take a bath, put on
clean underwear and use deodorant."
"That's a good boy," she teased, "Now run
along."
As she turned and left for the kitchen, I yelled out,
"Leeya? Attiya? Bath time!"
Two sweaty urchins suddenly appeared all out of breath
and
whined, "Do we hafta?"
"Yeah," I teased as I tickled them both,
"You hafta."
"Are you gonna wash 'Tiya's coochie?" Leeya
asked.
Shaking my head I replied, "No, I think she can
wash her
own coochie, don't you?"
With a coy smile she shyly asked, "Wanna wash
mine?"
"You ARE a little harlot, aren't ya?" I
teased.
"Well, she answered kinda seriously, "Once you
start
flirtin' with Monaavi, you might forget what mine looks like."
Taking her by the arms, I pulled her to me and assured
her,
"You are so important to me, no one, and I mean no one,
could ever take your place. You're my wife and I love you
with all my heart. Don't you ever think that, deal?"
Reassured, she smiled, kissed me sweetly and confirmed, "Deal!"
With that the girls scampered up the stairs to Leeya's
room
to bathe. While preparing their clothes, they were making
the usual giggly girl sounds when it got quiet all of a
sudden. I knocked on the bathroom door and asked through
the door, "Is everything OK in there?"
"Yeah," Leeya replied, "I think so."
Puzzled I asked, "What do you mean you THINK
so?"
"Maybe you should come in here" Leeya
responded.
As I opened the door I said, "OK, here I
come."
As soon as I stepped inside, I saw Attiya standing in
the
tub looking towards her groin. She saw me and her eyes shot
open wide, covered her fat little coochie with both hands
and fell into the tub with a giant splash.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Leeya replied, "We were playing around and 'Tiya
cut her
thigh on the tub spout and she's bleeding."
I flipped the lid down on the toilet, hoisted her out of
the tub and sat her down. "Where, where does it hurt?" I asked
her.
She opened her legs and she had a small gash on the
inside
of her thigh about two inches down from her vulva. She was
noticeably embarrassed to be exposed like this so I reached
up and grabbed a face cloth and covered her privates. She
smiled appreciatively and let me attend to her cut. One
band-aid later and several towels to sop up the water on
the floor, they were ready to get dressed.
I showed them how I'd laid their clothes out for them
and
left them to dress. I now went searching for my little she-
devil and found her in the study pounding on the computer
keyboard. I snatched her up with a giggle and took her
upstairs for a bath.
After bathing the little beauty I dressed her in a cute
blue dress trimmed in white. Priya showed up just as I was
putting the finishing touches in Tina and I exclaimed,
"Boy, this Mommy stuff is harder than putting in a full day
at the office!"
"Complainer!" she teased, "Are you ready
for this?"
"I'm a little scared," I admitted, "But
I'm ready."
"Don't be," she encouraged, "It'll be
alright. God, This
waiting is killing me! I wish it was eight O'clock and it was over."
"You and me both," I agreed, "I'd better
take my shower so
we can say prayers, wanna join me?"
"Sure!" she replied with mock sarcasm,
"Take a shower with
me then ask another woman to marry you two hours later.
You're such a letch!"
"Yeah," I snickered, "Don't ya just love
it?"
Leeya peeked in the door and I said to her, "Just
in time
little mommy, keep an eye on Tina while we shower."
"Oh all right," she replied grudgingly.
Priya and I showered and dried off. I put on a pair of
shorts and a T-shirt and we then said prayers. After
prayers, I dressed in a blue business suit, crisp white
shirt with a matching tie.
When we got downstairs, Mom was upstairs getting ready.
Nervously I looked at my watch: six-fifteen - "T" minus
forty-five minutes and counting.
Priya wore a shimmering blue sari with white hand
painted
doves on it. Leeya wore her lemon yellow sari with the
peacocks on the pallu. Mom came downstairs wearing a powder
blue sari with the pallu draped over her head in a loose
veil. All the women looked absolutely lovely!
Mom went to the kitchen to check on dinner and gave Pita
some final instructions. It was now six fifty-five and
everyone waited in the living room on pins and needles. I
looked out the window just as Ravi's car pulled into the
drive and said nervously, "They're here."
We moved to the hallway, and I opened the door as
Monaavi
and her parents were coming up the walk. Ravi entered first
wearing a black suit. Hindi wore a lavender salwar Kameez
and Monaavi wore an emerald green hand painted sari with
yellow flowers on her pallu. She had the pallu wrapped in a
fairly tight veil covering her hair and only exposing her
face back to her ears. She was absolutely stunning!
After giving our greeting salaams, we retired to the
living
room for tea. Monaavi sat on the couch in between her
parents and was shyly quiet, giving polite smiles every so
often. Mom commented to her, "Monaavi, what's wrong dear,
why so quiet?"
Monaavi smiled and replied, "I was just thinking
about all
the wonderful times I've had in this house and the joy of
teaching the girls. You've opened your home and your hearts
to me and loved me like a daughter. I guess I'm just
struggling with my life right now and wondering where it will all
lead."
"You need to understand something Monaavi,"
Mom answered
softly with a smile, "You ARE like a daughter to me and a
member of this family. As such, our only desire for you is
to be happy. Sean, more than any of us, realizes this and
wants more than anything for you to fulfill your dreams."
Monaavi looked at me shyly, blushed and replied with a
hint
of sadness, "If only that were to be."
I was tongue-tied and couldn't speak. I was so nervous I
could only give a nervous smile. Seeing my vacillation, Mom
stood and said, "Well, Sean has an idea. We can discuss it
over dinner. I think everything's ready, so let's move to
the dining room. I hope all of you enjoy the meal, it's a
traditional American meal that celebrates a time of
thanksgiving for all the blessings we've received over the
past year with hopes of continued blessings."
Mom had strategically made the seating arrangements so
that
I was sitting at the head of the table with Priya to my
immediate left, Leeya next to her, followed by Attiya and
Mom at the other end of the table. Pita was to sit next to
and on Mom's left. She seated Monaavi next to me on my
right, followed by her father then Hindi next to him.
Mom helped Pita serve dinner as I carved the turkey.
Hindi
commented that the bird was an unusually large chicken and
asked where Mom got it. Mom chuckled and replied that it
was a turkey and that she'd had it shipped from the states,
along with the other trimmings.
The bird carved, Mom asked me, "Sean, will you say
grace?"
I folded my hands in prayer and lowered my head as
everyone
else followed suit. Once ready, I began to pray: "Praise
God and His tender mercies. You have brought this family
many trials and with it many blessings. We give thanks and
praise to you Allah, O Holy One for bringing us together
tonight. In Your wisdom, we ask that you continue to bless
our families and bring us even closer in love."
Mom said, "Amen."
Everyone followed her lead and responded the same.
Ravi and I made a little small talk about work and Hindi
commented on the meal. About five minutes into dinner, I
said to Monaavi, "You know Monaavi (She puts her fork down
and turns to listen to me), a lot has happened over these
past few months."
"Yes it has," she agreed.
"We've seen a lot of heartache and pain with the
passing of
Emmy and our ordeal with Tina, but all of this has been
overshadowed by your presence in our home (tears start to
roll down her cheeks)."
I nervously began moving the food on my plate with my
fork
and continued, "You have opened the doors to Attiya's mind
and we're beginning to see her flower. You've enriched the
lives of everyone in our home with your loving presence."
(She covers her face with her napkin as she cries).
Continuing, I say, "For some reason, you seem to be
unhappy
and we, especially me, hate to see you like this. I have a
suspicion that you are considering leaving us, is this correct?"
"Yea Mr. Sean," Monaavi confirmed through her
napkin, "it's
becoming increasingly difficult to devout my complete
attention to the girls. My life seems to be in a mess right now."
I sighed and now my nervousness REALLY kicked in and I
began to babble: "Well, uh Priya and Leeya love you and uh
Tina called you Ma first and uh Mom loves you to death and
uh I love you and uh Attiya loves you and uh…"
"Wait!" she cut in, "What'd you just
say?"
"About what?" I asked.
"About you… You know?"
"Oh yeah," I stumbled, "I said that I
love you too. Anyway
as I was saying, with everybody loving you uh I've decided
uh that uh I can't uh let you leave and uh…"
"But sir," she interrupted, "Let's say if
I wanted to
leave, how could you keep me here?"
"Well uh," I responded (I'm really on a roll
aren't I?), "I
was talking with your Dad and uh then we talked with your
mother and uh, uh, we decided uh…"
"What do my parents have to do with this?"
Monaavi asked.
"Umm, that's a good point," I replied,
"Well see, I was
thinking and uh your parents sorta agreed with me that uh,
uh, if you were uh, uh unhappy in your current position
then uh, maybe I should find you a new one and uh since uh
I uh can't pay you to uh stay, I'll just have to uh, uh
MARRY you to stay and uh…"
(Intended's eyes bug out) "EEEEK! OHMYGOD! WHAT'D
you just
say?"
(Keep talking idiot) "Uh, I know uh that you're
older than
me and uh, uh you'd probably wanna uh marry an older guy
and all, but I'm uh cuddly and uh, cute and uh…"
"Sean?" Intended says.
(Keep talking!) "Uh, I was thinking that uh…"
"SEAN!" Intended hits idiot in the face with
napkin and
demands, "SHUT UP!"
(Voice taper off to a whisper) "And I'm uh already
trained…"
"Sean!" Monaavi demanded, "If you're so
well trained, then
shut up for a moment!"
"What?" I asked in a daze, "Was it
something I said?"
"What did you just ask me?" Monaavi demanded
frantically.
I awoke from my babbling stupor, gave Monaavi a tender
loving smile and rose from my chair. I moved and stood next
to her and she looked up. Out of nervousness, I gently
wiped the corner of her mouth with her napkin and said,
"You had some gravy there."
I handed her the napkin and said, "Here's your
napkin
back."
Taking the napkin without breaking eye contact, Monaavi
asked softly with imploring eyes, "Sean, please tell me
again, how can you make me stay?"
I got down on one knee, looked up into her eyes like a
boy
first smitten with a girl and asked, "Monaavi, I've
realized that I love you and want you in my life always,
Will you marry me? If you don't, my wives are gonna divorce
me, Mom'll leave me, then if you leave…"
"Sean?" Monaavi asked nicely.
"Then I uh," Idiot stammers on, "Won't
have a nanny and …"
"Shut up Sean!" Monaavi ordered as she gently
slaps my
face.
She grabbed my cheeks in between thumb and fingers like
one
would do with a child and said, "If you'll just shut up and
let me speak, I'll answer your question!"
"Marry me Monaavi, I love you!" I said plainly
with love.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and laid her head on
my
shoulder as she wept. She kissed my neck, sat up in her
seat as she wiped her eyes, smiled and replied with deep
emotion, "Sean, I've gone to bed every night for the past
six months dreaming that I'd hear those words from you. Yes
I'll marry you! This is my wildest dream come true, I just
can't believe this is happening to me! Yes, yes, yes! I'll
marry you!"
I exhaled an audible sigh. For the first time since I
started my stumbling verbal ramble, I looked around the
table. Everyone was silently crying with joy, except for
Attiya who was chowing down on a turkey leg and Tina who
looked like she was wearing her mashed potatoes.
"Thank you, Darling," I replied with a loving,
relieved
smile.
To break the silence, as I sat back own in my chair I
asked
her "How's the turkey?"
Everyone broke into laughter and clapped their hands.
Priya
asked her newly intended sister, "Well Monaavi, is this
new, more permanent position what you were looking for?"
Monaavi still had years of joy falling from her cheeks
and
shook she finger accusingly at Priya and replied, "You! You
were in on this weren't you?"
Priya laughed, nodded and revealed, "We all were,
including
your parents."
Monaavi looked to her right at her parents and they
looked
back, smiling and nodding. Leeya put in, "You may be older
than me but I'm second wife, that means you hafta listen to
me."
Monaavi smiled and replied firmly, "You may be over
me in
marriage, but I'm still you teacher (shaking her finger at
her) and you'd better listen to me or else."
Giving Leeya a look of confirmation, I said, "See?
Told you
so."
"Worth a try," Leeya conceded.
Swallowing a bite of food, I said, "To make this
official,
let me offer you a proposal for your dower. I will provide
you with the same dower Priya and Leeya have: a trust fund
of ten million US dollars that is yours to do with as you
see fit. I'll change my will to equally provide for our
children the same as any of my children that I may have
with Priya or Leeya. Tina has been provided for as my child. Is this
acceptable to you?"
When I said ten million dollars, Monaavi, Ravi and Hindi
dropped their forks and gasped wide-eyed.
"T-t-t-ten million dollars?" she replied in
awe.
"To do with as you will," I confirmed.
"Can I give half to my parents?" She asked
unselfishly.
"Whatever you want," I assured.
Still reeling from the figures, she sighed and firmly
stated, "Good! That's what I want."
"Done!" I confirmed.
Still in shock over the dower, I changed the subject by
saying, "Let's make this official, why don't we go shopping
tomorrow and buy your rings?"
Monaavi looked at her mother and Hindi nodded with a
smile.
Priya said, "We'll all go and help you pick out a nice
expensive one, OK?"
Monaavi sat back in her chair, put her hands in her lap
and
looked at her left hand saying, "This is all so
unbelievable! Someone pinch me and see if I'm dreaming all
of this!"
With dinner finished, Mom topped off the meal with apple
pie with a large slice of aged cheddar, and pumpkin pie
with whipped cream. As we ate and laughed, Priya asked
Hindi, "Mrs. Rupak, what arrangements would you like to
make concerning their courtship?"
Looking at Monaavi, then at me' she turned to Priya and
answered, "I could come to work with her everyday but I
don't think that's realistic. I think that I can trust Joan
and you to properly chaperone Monaavi and Sean, This is my
first experience with multiple marriage, do you have any suggestions?"
"Well, Priya replied, "Leeya and I were
talking. Although
they would see each other in the morning, there isn't any
time for courtship. We have agreed that if it's to your
liking, they can court for a few hours in the evening and
three nights a week they can meet at your home. Does this
meet with your approval?"
Ravi nodded and Hindi answered, "That seems
reasonable."
Looking at Monaavi, her mother asked, "How long of
a
courtship do you think is necessary?"
Looking at me Monaavi blushed and replied shyly,
"Not long,
maybe a month or two?"
Monaavi suddenly gasped and thought out loud,
"Gosh, I've
gotta go to the doctors to get on the pill."
Smiling at her I asked, "Why? Didn't you say you
wanted a baby?"
Her eyes got as big as the turkey platter and she
gasped,
"You mean…?"
I gave her a warm confirming smile and nodded.
Putting her hands on her stomach, she started crying
again,
sighed then whimsically said, "Oh my! A baby!"
"Yeah" I confirmed, "Your Dad's new job
title is President
In Charge of Grandchildren!"
Everyone got a laugh outta that. Mom said, "Well,
since it
seems my seamstress is getting a lotta business from me,
I'll make the appointment for next week. I'll get together
with Hindi and we'll make the arrangements for the wedding.
Let's set a date: how about two months from now, that'll
mean a late January wedding, OK?"
Shaking her head in continued disbelief Monaavi blushed
and
nodded shyly. Priya added, "That'll be right between
Leeya's and my birthdays! "Boy! What a birthday present: a
new sister!"
Monaavi smiled at Priya and said, "Sister… That
sounds so lovely!"
"And you too little sister!" Monaavi added to
Leeya.
Now it was Leeya's turn to blush. Tina dropped her plate
on
the floor and we all turned to look at her. She had gravy
and mashed potatoes all over her face, hands and in her
hair. She looked at all of us staring at her and smiled. We
broke out in laughter at the sight.
I nudged Monaavi's hand and when she looked at me I
pointed
to Tina and said, "She'll be your child too!"
With a happy giggle she quipped, "I love children:
the more
the merrier!"
After an exciting dinner, a babbling idiot proposing to
a
beautiful woman and with the knowledge that Monaavi would
join our family permanently as my wife, we joyfully
retreated to the living room for tea. I guess Monaavi was
having a strong case of the expectant doting mother
syndrome and insisted in cleaning the dinner that Tina so
playfully wore.
While we were in the living room, Priya and Monaavi
attended to Tina. They returned with our smiling child and
Priya asked out loud, "Can we have your attention for a minute?"
Everyone turned and became silent. Having everyone's
attention, Priya asked, "Monaavi and I were talking and we
were wondering if we might change the wedding date?"
It didn't make a difference to me and I said so. Mom
asked,
"Why? When do you propose?"
Priya looked at Monaavi, expecting her to speak but my
new
fiancé blushed a rosy pink and covered her face with her
veil. Priya chuckled and said, "Well, we were thinking,
Monaavi said her periods are so regular you could set your
watch by them. So, I suggested that she get married when
she's… ripe? If she's lucky, she'll get a wedding present,
he, he, he."
Mom chuckled and asked Monaavi, "Well, soon to be
daughter,
when will you be… ripe?"
Still covering her face, Monaavi replied barely audibly
through her veil, "The second week in January."
Mom, always one for a good tease quipped, "Second
week of
January it is! You and Sean can practice all week!"
Monaavi turned around embarrassed while Ravi smiled and
chuckled, Hindi covered her smile and blushed and Leeya
retorted, "Oh goody, goody, goody! We're gonna make a baby!"
Priya playfully slapped Leeya's arm and said, "Not
WE
silly: THEM!"
"Oh yeah," Leeya agreed, "Them!"
After some more playful fun, we decided that we would
pick
Monaavi and Hindi up at ten in the morning and go shopping
for her rings. None of us really wanted the evening to end,
but it was now ten pm and getting late.
The women and girls exchanged familial hugs after which
we
offered our parting salaams to my future in-laws as they
readied to leave. As Monaavi stood in the doorway to leave,
she turned, looked back at us and said, "I still can't
believe it: one day soon, I'll enter this, my new home, as
a wife. I love you Sean, more than you'll ever know!"
"I love you too Monaavi, goodnight Darling. We'll
see you
in the morning."
Still in dreamland, Monaavi shook her head, smiled and
said, "I'll never get to sleep! Goodnight Sean."
She started to leave and turned back quickly and added
"Oh,
and goodnight Priya, Leeya and… Mom."
Mom's eyes welled up as she quipped, "It's about
time you
stopped being so damn formal! Goodnight Sweetie!"
With a giggle Monaavi turned and walked to the car and
her
waiting parents. We stood in the open doorway as they drove
off. I shut the door and we turned to go back to the living
room. As we stepped into the living room, Mom slapped me on
the back and chided, "Well lover boy, you were really suave
and "deboner" with that eloquent proposal, let me tell you!"
"Jeez Mom," I whined, "I was so scared
she'd say no, my
tongue was stuck in my throat!"
Priya giggled and retorted, "Yeah, and so was your
brain!"
"Shut up!" Leeya shot back defending me,
"I thought it was kinda nice!"
"Thank you Munchkin," I acknowledged, "I
knew I could count
on you."
"Shut up, stutterer" Mom ordered, "Go to
bed and get some
sleep. Tomorrow girls, we're gonna spend some serious
money! I just LOVE shopping for jewelry!"
Since it was late, and this was supposed to be Leeya's
night, we decided to sleep together and Leeya would have
tomorrow night.
Once settled in bed, Tina was dry nursing on Leeya's
tiny
breast bump when Leeya asked me, "What's it feel like to be
marrying a full grown woman?"
"I don't know why," I replied, "But it's
kinda scary."
Priya commented, "She may be full grown but inside
she a
lot like Leeya, still a kid."
"I ain't no kid!" Leeya shot back, "I'm
just a tiny little woman!"
"You tell her Sweetie," I agreed.
"Sorry Leeya," Priya said, "I forgot
you're a nursing mother now."
"Alright girls," I refereed, "Let's get
some sleep. I need
to rest up and prepare myself so that you "women" can spend
a big chunk of my change tomorrow."
"Goodnight Sean," Leeya said.
"Goodnight Letch," Priya added.
Goodnight my little Darlings," I replied.
Continued in Chapter 75…
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