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Child Brides of India
By: C. Stanton Leman
Chapter 76: Marrying the Teacher (MFfg, rom, cons)
The next two weeks were going to be like a blitzkrieg of
controlled chaos. Monaavi's wedding garb was ready, along
with all the other females in the family. They went
together to the seamstress' for the confirming fit and pick-up.
That evening, I told Priya that I felt that Monaavi and
Leeya had a right to know about my nightmare and what had
happened. I voiced my fear that Monaavi might call off the
wedding upon hearing the details of my dream. Priya felt
that it was up to me to make that decision. I also told her
that I felt Mom had a right to know. Priya said that if I
WAS going to tell the others, I should do it right away,
and that tomorrow would be the best time.
The next morning at breakfast, after Monaavi arrived, I
said. "Tonight when I get home, there's something very
important I feel I need to share with the women in my life.
This is gonna be very difficult because I'm afraid. I'm
afraid that once I bear my soul Monaavi, you might call the
wedding off. Priya figured it out earlier, so I filled her
in the details, but I need for you Leeya, Mom and Monaavi
to know what I've been dealing with for the past year."
Mom looked at me sternly and said, "You don't have
to do
this, Sean."
"I don't understand," Monaavi said confused,
"What's this
all about? Why would I call off the wedding? Sean, you're
scaring me by telling me this, and now you want me to wait
until tonight to hear what you've got to say?"
I sighed and replied, "You're right Monaavi"
I flipped open my cell, called the office and left Teta
a
message saying I'd be in late. Closing the phone I said,
"Now then, let's go to the study."
I asked Pita to keep and eye on Tina while we talked.
After
everyone was seated, I closed the door and walked to the
front of the desk. Everyone's eyes, except Priya who was
looking down, were on me.
"For the past year," I began, "Since
marrying Priya, I have
been struggling with an attraction to young girls."
Monaavi interrupted and asked, ""Is THAT what
this is
about? I've known this all along."
I nodded and said, "Let me finish. I'm sure that
everyone
here knows that I like little girls, otherwise I wouldn't
have married Leeya and continued to have an intimate
relationship with her, or fallen in love with Emmy. I think
that because of this proclivity towards young girls, I
never really saw your beauty Monaavi, because before
dealing with my inner demon, I wasn't looking for, or
attracted to, an adult woman. Although I never consciously
thought this attraction to young girls might affect me
later in life, I guess I was kidding myself."
I went on to explain about the series of dreams I'd had
and
the final culminating nightmare. I reassured everyone that
I'd never touched Tina in any sexual way or ever had a
sexual thought about her. I explained everything in detail
regarding the note; my decision to commit suicide because I
didn't trust myself and that death was better than touching
Faatina. I then revealed how Emmy's voice had appeared to
me only seconds before I slit my wrist and saved my life.
After I finished my story concerning what Emmy had revealed
about my life, my future and the foretold blessing, I said
to everyone, "I wanted you women to know because I never
want Leeya or Monaavi to ever think I would be attracted to
or abuse our children."
Leeya, Monaavi and Mom were crying as Priya gave me a
reassuring smile and a nod. I went to Leeya, knelt in front
of her and enfolded her in my arms. She clung to me as
though I'd been lost for years and cried, "I knew, I just
knew something bad was going to happen that night, so did
Priya. When we woke up the next morning and everything was
OK, I forgot about it. Does this mean, that now that you're
gonna marry Monaavi, you'll divorce me and Priya because
we're not grown up?"
I knelt in front of her, enfolded her in my arms and
assured her by saying, "No Sweetheart, Priya and you are my
wives, you're a part of my life and I can't live without
you. I'll never give either of you up! You are mine for
life and I am yours, until either I die or you do, but
we'll never be apart."
Monaavi stood, stepped to me, and as I stood she wrapped
her arms around me. I held her gently as she cried and
looked at Priya who just nodded. Monaavi broke away and
looking into my eyes said, "Am I the blessing you spoke
about? Am I God's gift that you needed to prepare yourself for?"
I nodded and replied softly, "That's what I believe
with
all my heart. That's why I saw you in a completely
different way after that night. As the pieces of the puzzle
began to come together, I not only realized that I'd been
falling in love with you, but I also saw your true beauty.
When Emmy's words kept ringing in my head, over and over
again, I suddenly realized that you are the only one who's
brought that kind of love to our entire family."
Monaavi sat back down as she wiped away her tears. Mom
rose
and hugged me and whispered in my ear, "I knew all along
about your problem and I never doubted that you'd never
abuse your children."
"I've told all of you this," I said aloud,
"Because you are
the women who know me and share the intimate details of my
life. I never want to live a life of secrets or deception
with any of you. I want all of you to know that before I'd
ever touch one of my children sexually, I'd take my own
life first. What I need to hear from all of you is that you
believe me and will trust that the only intimate contact in
my life will be with my three wives."
Leeya leapt to her feet and threw herself into my arms
saying, "I'll die loving you! I wanna grow up and have
babies with you, I want to always wake up everyday and know
my husband loves me. You make me feel like the most
beautiful girl in the world. I know I'm not pretty. Priya
and Monaavi are beautiful and next to them, I'm ugly and I
know that no one else in the world would think I'm pretty
but you think I am: inside and out. That's why I can do all
those secret things with you and be your wife because I'm
yours and I'll always be yours, and only yours!"
"I will reassure you always, my beautiful tiny
little wife,
we'll have our babies and our life together too. You're
mine and you'll always be mine… forever and ever."
I kissed her passionately as she hungrily returned my
kiss.
We broke the kiss and as I sat her back down on the sofa,
Monaavi was blushing. Leeya asked her," Whatcha blushin'
about sister?"
Monaavi replied, "Wow Leeya, it's just strange to
see you
kiss like a grown woman. I know you're married, but this is
the first time for me to see your married side. I think
I'll have to take lessons from you." (Giggle)
Monaavi looked up at me and continued with, "Sean,
I've
given you my heart a long time ago, I've pledged myself to
you and I believe you. I want more than anything to marry
you and I WILL on Monday. I hope and pray that this time
next year, I can provide you with living proof of my love
by bearing you a child."
Priya remained seated and I went and knelt before her.
She
embraced me, kissed me passionately and said openly, "For
riches or ruin, for all of eternity, we are bound together:
heart-to-heart and soul-to-soul. You are my first and only
love. I'm proud to be your first wife and will follow you
to hell, if that's what it takes!"
"Now," I said to all, "I can marry
Monaavi and complete our
family with a clear, happy conscience and heart. I vow this
today, I will marry no more. You three women are all I need
in this life and are more than any man deserves! Allah has
blessed me beyond all beyond all measure."
With that, Mom said, "Now that we've gotten through
THIS,
why don't you kiss your wives and go to work: you need to
pay for that ring and a wedding!"
"Me first!" Leeya cut in as she jumped to her
feet, "I'm the smallest."
Leeya again leapt into my arms and laid a lip lock on me
with passion. We kissed for almost two minutes before she
broke off with a giggle saying, "THAT should hold you until tonight!"
Priya said, "Save the best for last, kiss
Monaavi."
Monaavi didn't need to be told twice because she stood
blushing waiting for her turn. I walked to her and she put
her arms around my neck. Standing on tiptoes, she leaned in
and gave me a soft, slow, sensuous kiss. After a couple of
minutes, I started to pull away but she maintained contact
and followed me. She pulled me tighter for a few moments
longer, then I broke off saying, "Wow! Who've YOU been
practicing with?"
She giggled and replied, "That's my heart
speaking."
Leeya giggled and added, "Those Frencher kisses are
great! Huh?"
Monaavi blushed and simply nodded.
Priya cut in saying, "Alright older sister, if your
Momma
knew what just happened, she'd have my head!"
Monaavi giggled, nodded, then blushed again.
As I moved on to Priya, she jumped up in the chair,
wrapped
her left arm around my neck as she leaned in for her kiss.
When we made contact, she reached down and grabbed my
package and gave me a light squeeze. Monaavi gasped while
Leeya and Mom giggled. She broke off saying, "Now, maybe
you'll REALLY have something to think about today!"
I looked at Mom and she jokingly quipped, as she raised
her
hands as if to ward me off, "Whoa, I've already gotta
husband! Get to work, Letch."
With everyone getting a laugh outta that, I kissed Mom
on
the cheek, turned and left for work. I returned home to
find the girls upstairs again. I asked Mom, "What are they
doing up there all the time?"
She smirked and replied, "Just girl things, you'll
find out
soon enough."
Priya's birthday was this Friday and Monaavi's henna
party
was on Saturday, with our wedding on Monday. The next four
days were going to be nerve wrenching. As a rule, Muslims
don't celebrate birthdays but we weren't so fundamental in
our beliefs as to think that this was necessarily a bad
thing and always had a small family party. Priya would now
become a teenager and that somehow made her feel more womanly.
For her birthday, I'd gotten her some expensive software
for her computer for school. She'd passed her midterm exams
and had amazingly completed her first year of undergraduate
work in one term. Mom baked her a cake (which Tina enjoyed
wearing) and we discovered another of Priya's fetishes: chocolate.
Mom, having a very special relationship with Priya, gave
her a broach that had belonged to my great-grandmother,
saying that Priya was a true matriarch just like my great-
grandmother was. Leeya gave her a heart-shaped locket that
bore Tina's photo inside saying that she could now carry
her daughter's photo with her always. Monaavi gave her a
handmade card and what was written inside Priya chose not
to share, but said that her and Monaavi would forever be
bound by those words.
That night after the party, Leeya and I made tender love
to
our new teenager wife and sister. I was still amazed by the
gentleness and tenderness expressed between the two during
these times of intimate expression between them.
The next evening when I took Mom and my wives to
Monaavi's
for the henna party, Priya held Tina's hand as Priya helped
our daughter paint the dot of henna in my palm. I returned
home to an evening with the men that lacked the bawdy tales
or talk that was a staple when Mahmoud attended.
Ravi's family was small, with both he and Hindi being an
only child. Ravi's father was there, and although a serious
man, he was amiable and easy to talk to. Hindi's father was
a large, portly man who was gregarious and liked to joke.
We talked mostly of education, the differences between
India's and America's, about our college experiences in
America and what I'd hoped for my children as far as
education was concerned. I stated that in all probability,
Monaavi would home school our children until high school.
The men's party broke up about eleven, while the women
didn't return home until midnight. Dad and I were sitting
in the study when they arrived home and Leeya came bursting
in saying, "Guess what? I got to stay with the women as we
teased Monaavi about you: boy, she sure was shy!"
"Honestly Sean," Mom commented as she sat,
"She's really
frightened about her wedding night. You'd better be
prepared to take things really slow with her. She's more
frightened than Leeya or Priya ever were!"
"I don't understand," I replied surprised,
"She sure
doesn't kiss like she's afraid."
Priya reminded me, "Kissing with your clothes on,
then
hiding behind your hands or veil, is one thing. If you've
been paying attention, she hides behind her veil a lot.
She's shy, very devout and she's spent her entire life
shielding her body and protecting her femininity from
prying eyes. Now, she'll have to reverse her thinking and
bare herself, all in one night. If she can once get past
the nudity, I think she'll be very passionate and
responsive, at least she wants to be."
"I promise," I replied, "To be just as
loving and patient
with her as I was with you and Leeya. Besides, she's a
grown woman, there shouldn't be any fear of being too small
or anything."
"Sean," Priya reminded, "She's not that
much taller than I.
She's also got a very small figure, so don't be too
surprised if she's not as big as you think. Just be gentle with her."
"I will," I assured, "Who's gonna act as
her sister at the wedding?"
"I am," Leeya giggled, I get to use the baton
this time."
"Well," Mom cut in, "It's really late. We
should get to
bed. We've got a lot to do tomorrow."
Agreeing, we went upstairs to bed. The next morning
after
prayers, the breakfast table was abuzz with talk of the
wedding tomorrow. Leeya was going to go to Monaavi's this
afternoon and spend the night and we'd meet her tomorrow at the hall.
The day was spent getting the clothes (women's of
course)
ready, and Mom and Priya made a trip to the hall to make
sure all the arrangements were taken care of. They dropped
Leeya off at Monaavi's on the way. Dad and I commented that
this period of "limbo" was par for the course: all the
groom has to do is wait, worry and show up.
It seemed strange not to have Leeya at the dinner table
with us. This being Priya's night, she remarked, "No lovin'
tonight Buddy, gotta save the juice for a baby tomorrow night."
Mom and Dad got a chuckle outta that but I suddenly felt
this pressure to perform. What if she didn't get pregnant
right off the bat? Would it be my fault? This only seemed
to fuel my insecurity with regards to marrying an adult
woman expecting to get pregnant: and a shy one to boot!
After dinner we said Prayers and turned in. Priya and I
reminisced about our wedding night, and also Leeya's, as we
compared the two. I told Priya that Leeya wasn't as shy as
she on her wedding night, but that I thought it was because
we'd shared some limited intimacy before we were married
and she kinda knew what to expect. Priya giggled when she
said that she felt that once I got her clothes off and the
initial shyness dealt with, she'd probably fuck me silly. I
wasn't so sure. We snuggled lovingly as she told me that
marrying Monaavi would be one of the greatest things to
happen for our family.
After morning prayers and at breakfast, my nervousness
and
fears came to the surface. That nervousness was compounded
when Priya asked for my rings. Surprised, I asked "Why?
They're a symbol of yours and Leeya's love.'
Not wanting to give the surprise away, Priya replied
nonchalantly, "It's just for today, don't be so sensitive
about things. Gosh, you act like you're marrying the Queen
of Sheba or something."
Reluctantly I pulled Priya and Leeya's wedding rings
from
my left hand and gave them to her. After breakfast, we
readied our clothes (her for the umpteenth time). At eleven
am, Priya said she was taking a shower so that she could
get Tina dressed, then I could watch her when I was dressed
to allow her to get ready. After she showered, I did also
and got dressed in the blue wedding garb Monaavi had picked
out for me. Tina looked so beautiful in her pink salwar
kameez. She wore little pink slippers and her hair was
pulled back in two ponytails with bright pink ribbons.
Priya came down in a turquoise hand painted sari with a
sunset painted on the pallu. Mom wore a deep red sari made
of some shimmering material, she looked lovely. Dad wore a
blue business suit. Soon we were all ready to leave.
We arrived at the hall about twelve-thirty and the
ceremony
was to begin at one. Mom went inside to check things out as
we were held outside, waiting to make the groom's entrance.
Mom returned about ten minutes later saying everything was
ready. I asked if she'd seen Monaavi but she just smiled
and raised an eyebrow. At twelve fifty, the band began to
play, signaling that we should enter.
Upon entering, Leeya, dressed in an azure blue sari hand
painted with yellow flowers, began to tease us with her
flowered baton. Mom took Tina from Priya, and along with
Dad, took their seats: Mom and Tina with the women and Dad
with the men.
As I was summoned the ceremony, Monaavi and her father
entered from a side door. I looked at my bride and she took
my breath away! Monaavi was wearing a deep red Lengha,
richly embroidered and encrusted with silver and green
sequins and stones. It was magnificent! She wore a matching
half choli with matching sequined red slippers and through
the deep red dupatta, I could see her midriff and bare shoulders
I saw her henna-painted hands folded delicately in front
of
her as she walked. When she neared, I saw her hair had been
pulled up and curled with ringlets hanging down covering
her temples. She wore a simple strand of diamonds down the
center of her head with a red ruby dangling in the center
of her forehead. From her small, shell-like ears hung a
single stringer of diamonds. I think she'd borrowed Priya's
necklace that spread across the whole of her exposed upper
chest. It consisted of stringers of diamonds in varying
lengths that came to a "V" at the center of her chest.
Though the red crepe dupatta, I saw her tinted face clearly
as she smiled shyly at me and then quickly looked away.
The positions were: at my far left stood Ravi and to his
right stood Monaavi. I stood about two feet to Monaavi's
right with Priya next to me and Leeya next to her. Ravi's
father acted as his witness and Adib acted as mine, both
stood behind us.
The Imaam raised his hand as if to ask for silence. When
the room had hushed, the ceremony began.
After a litany of prayers and readings from the Koran,
Imaam looked at Ravi as he said, "Today we will witness a
solemn pledge between Sean Michaels and Monaavi Rupak. I
ask you now, in the presence of God and this congregation,
to declare your intent."
Ravi answered with, "I have given my only child, my
virgin
daughter Monaavi Rupak, to Sean Michaels in marriage."
Turning to Priya, Imaam asked, "As first wife, do
you
sanction this union?"
"I have sanctioned it Imaam," Priya answered
as she nodded.
Turning to Leeya, Imaam asked, "Do you, as second
wife,
allow this marriage?"
"Yes O holy One, I have allowed it," Leeya
responded.
Imaam then turned to Monaavi and asked, "Do you
accept Sean
Michaels as your husband with the dower that you have agreed upon?"
Monaavi replied, "I have accepted and given myself
to him."
Imaam to me, "Do you accept Monaavi Rupak as your
wife?"
I replied, "Yes, I have accepted her as my
wife."
Monaavi then stepped forward with her father and Ravi,
followed by Monaavi, signed her dower, then I signed, the
witnesses signed and I returning it folded and in the
envelope to her.
Then, I signed the Nikaahnama, then Ravi, followed by
our
witnesses, Ravi's father and Adib, and finally by Monaavi.
To my surprise, Monaavi lifted her hand and placed a
wedding ring in Imaam's palm after I handed him Monaavi's
wedding band. Imam said some more readings and the blessing
of the rings. He nodded to me, and I took Monaavi's wedding
ring from him, and repeated after him:
"Monaavi, I give you this ring as a symbol of our
vows, and
with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. In
the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful. With
this ring, I thee wed."
Monaavi then took my ring from Imaam and repeated after
him
saying, "Sean, I give you this ring as a symbol of our
vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor
you. This ring will also symbolize the love and union
between my sisters, our husband, and I. In the name of God,
The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful, with this ring I thee wed."
I looked at it in wonder! It was a platinum band with a
serpentine finish about three-eighths of an inch wide. It
had a lager diamond of maybe one caret flanked on each side
with two smaller diamonds about three-quarters of a caret
each. I was stunned!
After some more readings, the Imaam finished with,
"In as
much as you have each pledged to the other your lifelong
commitment, love, and devotion, I now pronounce you husband
and wife, In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most
Merciful.
Those whom God has joined together let no one put
asunder.
God bless you and the congregation"
The ceremony finished to the sounds of claps, cheers and
shouts of joy. As everyone moved to his or her segregated
seats, the women folk gathered Monaavi and I and seated us,
Monaavi on my left with Priya and Leeya on my right, to
begin the feast.
After the lavish feast, Monaavi and I were summoned to
the
pillows. The Koran was placed between us, as we were both
handed mirrors. Via the mirror I could see my woman bride
had tears running down her cheeks as she smiled through her veil.
Following the direction of the Imaam, prayers were
offered
by the women folk along with their salaams. Monaavi and I,
in turn, returned their salaams.
After standing, Ravi approached, took his daughter's
hand
and giving me her hand said, "Take my little princess and
treasure her always. Give us lots of grandchildren too."
Embarrassed Monaavi chided, "Poppa!"
I chuckled and replied, "I will treasure her
always, and as
for the grandkids, I promise we'll work on it."
Monaavi discretely slapped my arm and said, "Sean!
You two
just want to see me blush!"
Not giving in, Ravi retorted, "See that she blushes
tonight!"
Although still covered with her deep red dupatta,
Monaavi
put her hands to her face. Wanting to linger a moment
longer, I added, "I'm younger than her, I hope she doesn't
take advantage of me."
Monaavi pinched my arm and ended it all with, "If
you keep
this up, I'll remain a virgin one night longer!"
"Ooooh! I see thorns now!" I replied in mock
fright.
As Ravi turned to leave, with a chuckle he said looking
to
heaven, "Allah, give him strength."
With that, we walked to the limo followed by the cheers
of
family and friends. I opened the curbside door and helped
Monaavi into the limo. I climbed in after her and we pulled
away from the curb and headed to our new life.
My stomach still churning with butterflies, all I could
do
was stare at the ring my wives had given me through
Monaavi. When I looked over, she was doing the same thing,
twirling her rings on her henna-painted finger.
I said softly to her, "You know you three vixens
really
surprised me with this ring."
Giggling, Monaavi said mysteriously, "There's
another
surprise I hope you'll enjoy just as much."
Slowly pulling her veil from her face I smiled and
asked,
"Oh yeah? And what (Kiss) might that (Kiss, kiss) surprise
be (Kiss)?
"(Kiss) If I told you (Kiss)," she lovingly
responded, "It
(Kiss) wouldn't be (Kiss) much of a (Kiss) surprise would
it? (Long Kiss)"
"Growl" I playfully toned like a lion.
"Let me see your hands," I asked, "Maybe
I can get a head
start on finding our names."
Pulling her hands back she giggled and refused saying,
"Oh
no you don't! Priya and Leeya told me how you ravaged and
defiled them on their wedding nights."
"Tattle tails!" I quipped in mock anger.
To test the waters, I leaned in giving her a passionate
kiss. I brushed my open hand from her hip, up the side of
her rib cage. I started to firm from the jolt of feeling
the bare skin of her waist and softly cupped her small
breast. Monaavi gasped and quickly covered my hand and
asked, "Please husband, not yet. I want this as much as you
but I'm not quite ready."
I removed my hand as she blushed but she didn't cover
her
face. I sat silent for a moment and said, "I'm sorry if I
rushed things, but I love you and you're simply
breathtakingly beautiful!"
"I love you so much Sean," Monaavi said as she
looked in my
eyes lovingly, "And this is such an unbelievable fairy
tale. I still can't believe I'm actually your wife and will
be sleeping with you tonight. I have to admit I'm terribly
shy and afraid to do secret things. I need you to help me;
help me by not rushing me, please?"
Monaavi laid her head on my chest and started crying. I
held her and assured her softly, "Don't worry Sweetheart,
we won't do anything you're not ready to do, understand?"
"I understand," she sniffled, "But I want
you to touch my
secret places and do all those secret things, I'll just
need your help to get through it. I've spent my entire
adult life hiding my body and avoiding the glances of men,
now I have a husband to whom I've vowed to God to give
myself to. It's just a little difficult. "
I found it so innocently strange and sweet that since
Monaavi had chosen to consult Leeya primarily about sex,
she'd adopted Leeya's terms and ways of expressing sexual
matters. Priya was right: she may be an adult, but in many
ways, she's still just a child.
"You know," I reminded her, "We don't
have to do anything
if you don't want to. We can just sleep if you're too shy or
frightened."
"In my mind," Monaavi replied with her head
still on my
chest, "That's what I'd like to do, but I'm letting my
fears overtake me. I'm a grown woman and I'll give myself
to you as a woman and your wife, even if I have to blindfold you!"
She giggled and looked up at me through her lashes with
a
coquettish smile. My imagination stirred by her suggestion,
I replied, "That could indeed have possibilities, in fact
it might be kinda fun!"
She giggled, blushed and remarked, "I can tell
what's on
YOUR mind; maybe I'll end up being ravaged and defiled no
matter what!"
"I aim to please," I quipped teasingly.
"We'll see," she replied teasing me back.
" I can HARDly wait," I retorted.
"See, Leeya said you were a letch," Monaavi
replied trying
to disarm me.
"I confess," I admitted, "But did she
tell you she was a
little harlot herself?"
Monaavi giggled and shot back, "Priya said that you
corrupted both of them by casting a spell of tingles and
'gasms over them: they just couldn't resist you."
Reminding her, I said, "It's all about them there
tingles!"
Monaavi blushed saying, "Maybe I'll have to see
what these
tingles and 'gasms are all about."
"Maybe we both will!" I replied coyly.
Monaavi got serious and said, "It may seem silly
and
childish but I'm gonna miss my parents, especially Poppa.
He's been so protective of me and treats me like his little
girl; even to this day. He taught me to be devout and
chaste. Momma taught me to love children. They've given me
so much, that's why I wanted to give them half my dower."
I snuggled her to me and chuckled, "I don't think
it's
silly at all. I owe my parents everything, especially my
Mom. She really loves you and was so happy when I told her
I was going to ask for your hand she acted like an excited little
girl!"
"I truly love your mother… I mean Mom."
Monaavi answered,
"She's the wisest person I've ever met. I've learned a lot from
her."
"I think," I responded, "That's why I
admire women so much.
She's the strongest person I've ever met. Even Dad says
she's been the driving force in our family and couldn't
have survived without her. I hope my daughters grow up just like her."
"Yeah," she replied whimsically, "It
would be a crowning
achievement if Tina grew up with her qualities."
"It certainly would," I agreed.
Seeing out the window that we weren't far from the
house, I
said, "Well, we're almost home. Ready to begin your new life?"
"Once I step through that door, my whole life will
change
won't it?" She asked tentatively.
"One I hope," I promised, "That will be a
happy and fulfilled one."
"It seems," she replied as she looked up at
me, "The closer
we get, the more giddy I become."
"I love you, Monaavi," I said lovingly as I
kissed her,
"More than you'll ever know."
"And I love you, Sean," Monaavi answered,
"I hope I'll make
a good Muslim wife."
"You will," I reassured her, "And I have
a feeling you'll
teach Priya and Leeya a few things along the way."
Monaavi blushed and replied, looking down, "Oh stop
it.
Even Leeya knows more than I do about being a wife!"
"You two," I asked, "Are very close
aren't you?"
"She's been my primary teacher," Monaavi
admitted, "She's
been a real sister to me and I admire her very much. She
loves you, Sean, with every breath she takes. You should
see the way she looks at you when you're not even aware.
She says she owes you her life and will spend hers loving
you and trying to repay the love you've given her. I was
surprised at her passion for you when she kissed you! I
only hope I can show you mine as easily as she. Priya is a
lot like Mom. She's been a very gentle teacher in how I
should act as a wife. I'm still amazed at how smart she is.
It's almost as if she's like another mother to me, at thirteen."
We pulled into the drive to find Mom, with Koran in
hand,
along with Priya and Leeya, standing in the doorway in
anticipation, all wearing beaming smiles.
Continued in Chapter 77…
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