Child Brides of India

By C. Stanton Leman

Chapter 108

Today was a glorious day! Today, Hibbah came home from the hospital. Everyone in the house was excited to finally get to meet my little Iraqi princess. Pita and Tiya made sure that Hibbah’s room was ready and all of her clothes were put away. I had a handicap ramp built onto the deck so that she could be wheeled out onto the drive and get around a little. She still couldn’t push herself until her cast came off; at which time, she’d learn how to use crutches.

Miko had taken the day off, and at nine, she, Aziza, Jamie and I got ready to leave in the van. Miko and Aziza went shopping the evening before and bought Hibbah a pair of baggy jeans and a pink top with white, frilly edges around the neck and sleeves.

Aziza was all a twitter with excitement that Hibbah was ready to begin a new life. A life she could never have imagined in a home that was beyond all dreams. They would never be alone anymore; they now had a family for support. Aziza had melded right in with our family and she and my mother conversed for long periods of time with Jamie translating.

Aziza and Jamie were still sort of shell-shocked about me taking a fifth wife — and a thirteen year-old at that. Even so, they were excited about the wedding in two days. I was glad I had Hibbah as a diversion from my thoughts or I would have been a nervous wreck.

Over the past two weeks, I’ve seen a side of Tiya that she’d always kept to herself. Whenever we were alone, she would tell me about all those years of silence and many of the things that screamed to be expressed. She said she had such a feeling of freedom when she learned to play the piano and everything started to make sense to her. When she learned to speak, it was as if she were born again to a new life. She was shy when she told me that she is so happy to be able to tell me what’s in her heart. That made me misty-eyed.

Like Miko, Tiya was very submissive to me and longed for my approval. She always felt inferior in some way because of her autism and the fact that she was flat chested. I would just gently reassure her with hugs, kisses and cuddles that she was every bit a woman as my other wives and just as desirable. She was proud of the fact that she could get my motor running and would sometimes going into a teasing frenzy where she would just giggle at my frustration. I, for one, still couldn’t believe that I’d lived with this girl for eight years and never saw her true beauty. Now, she would become my wife and bear my children some day.

We arrived on the ward at almost ten and Aziza bolted quickly for Hibbah’s room. Miko and I stopped at the nurses’ station to let them know we were there to take Hibbah home. When we entered the room, Hibbah was lying on the bed nude as her mother worked her clean panties up her legs. She and I saw each other at the same time and both of us stared at each other bug-eyed and she slapped her hand over her pudenda and squealed an “Eeek!” I said, “Oops!” and spun on my heels and went back out of the room.

Miko, Jamie and Aziza giggled as I hurriedly left. When invited back in, Hibbah was dressed in her new clothes and ready to go. I went to her and gave her a hug. She slapped my chest and said, “You’re a naughty man! You saw my pee-pee!”

I lied and said, “I didn’t see a thing! You scared me so bad, I had to leave and catch my breath!?’

“Liar,” she joked, “you saw it. I know you did.”

“Okay,” I admitted, “I cannot lie. I saw your pee-pee. It’s a very pretty pee-pee too.”

“Thank you — I mean, you’re a bad, bad king looking at my princess pee-pee!” she teased as she slapped me again with a grin. We just laughed. Miko left and returned with Hibbah’s discharge papers and instructions and soon after, the attendant showed up with the wheelchair.

After getting everyone in the van and buckled up, we were on our way. Hibbah was jabbering nonstop with Miko and her mom so fast, it’s a wonder Jamie could keep up. Miko told me she was asking questions about our house and her new room. She also was excited about meeting everyone, but was afraid that they would think she was ugly.

I reassured her that everyone was happy she was coming and couldn’t wait to meet her. She asked me about my new bride and was she pretty. I told her that Tiya was very pretty and that we would be married in two days. She shook her head and said, Boy, you sure must like all that sex stuff to have all those wives!”

We all laughed and Miko replied as she rubbed her belly, “Yeah, he likes the sex stuff!”

Soon we were home and cresting the hill overlooking the house. She craned her head between the front seats and exclaimed, “Wow! That looks like one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces!”

I replied, “I don’t know about that, but it’s a pretty big house.”

When we pulled up next to the house, everyone didn’t even wait for us to exit the van. They were all outside waiting for us with smiles. I pulled the wheelchair from the back and while everyone got out on the driver’s side, I pulled Hibbah from the passenger’s side and set her in the wheelchair.

When I wheeled her around to meet everyone, they each gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Cinny asked her “Does that hurt?” as she pointed to her stump.

Hibbah smiled and replied, “Yes, sometimes really bad.”

Lizzy touched the scar on Hibbah’s cheek and said, “Don’t feel bad, Hibby, I’ve got a doozy too,” and turned around and pulled her pants down. She pointed to a two inch scar on her butt cheek saying, “See? I cut myself on a nail when me and Cinny were playing in the barn.”

Well, everyone busted out laughing. She turned around with her peach on display and Hibbah pointed saying, “Everyone can see your pee-pee!”

Lizzy covered her mouth, blushed and said, “Oops!” and hurriedly pulled her pants back up. With the exhibition over, we went inside. I carried her around as Mom gave her the guided tour. She was ooh-ing and ah-ing and twisted her head around as she took in everything. We showed her all of our rooms, hers and her mother’s and she was really happy. When she saw the size of my bed, she quipped, “Wow! That’s not a bed, that’s a playground!”

Everyone but her caught the double entendré and I remarked, “It sure is.”

Once back downstairs, she and Leeya began to get friendly. Hibbah couldn’t believe it when Leeya told her she married me when she was five. Hibbah looked at her swollen belly and asked her if it hurt to be pregnant. Leeya giggled, replied no and began to tell her the joys of becoming a mother. When Hibbah met Tiya, she looked at me and said, “Boy, she sure is pretty; all your wives are beautiful! In fact, all the girls here are beautiful.” She hung her head and added, “Not like me. I wish I was as pretty as them.”

Mom got up and gave her a hug and said, “Sweetie, you’re just as pretty as they are. You are just as special too. Now give your Aunt Joan a hug and a kiss.”

After giving Mom some sugar, things lightened up. Around noon, Dad and I fired up the grill. Pita had made the girls’ favorite of lamb kabobs and veggies and we grilled some hamburgers and hot dogs. I’ve never seen a small girl like Hibbah put so much food away! She had a hamburger, two hot dogs and a couple of kabobs. She drank a lot of tea and soon was squirming in her wheelchair.

Mom asked her, “Do you have to go to the bathroom, Sweetie?”

Hibbah nodded and said, “I don’t think I can hold it.”

She suddenly froze and we heard the trickle on the deck. No one paid any attention, pretending not to hear a thing. Mom, Aziza and Jamie took her inside. I saw Mom lovingly pick her up and carry her upstairs.

She returned a while later and blushed. No one said anything and Dad asked her, “Well, Hibbah, would you like some ice cream, chips or something else?”

Hibbah smiled and answered, “I’ve never had chips before, what do they taste like?”

Dad said, “Sweetie, we’ve got the best junk food in the state! Here, try these and gave her a plate of Cheetos. She crunched into one and smiled. Dad nodded and said, “Good, huh? Eat up, we’ve got plenty!”

After eating, the girls went inside while the adults cleaned up the deck. When we came inside, they were laying on the floor with Hibbah, Jamie next to her, playing a board game. At five, I carried her upstairs so Aziza could bathe her. After everyone had their baths, we adjourned to the classroom for evening prayers. Both Aziza and Hibbah were happy to pray with others of like faith. Aziza remarked that it was almost like being at mosque.

Around seven, we could tell that Hibbah was worn out from the day’s excitement. I carried her up and set her on her bed and kissed her goodnight. She cried as she expressed her joy and happiness with her new home and family. Mom was right: she’s always right. Paying it forward is a wonderful feeling!

All the girls went shopping the next morning after breakfast. They wanted to buy Hibbah a new dress for the wedding and some other things. Needless to say, Jamie and Aziza were beneficiaries of Mom’s shopping habits. The rest of the afternoon was readying things for the wedding.

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The following morning at prayers, I gave thanks for all the blessings in my life. I had four wonderful wives, lovely and healthy children and parents that supported and loved us. I was also thankful that we, as a family, were able to give Hibbah and her mother their own measure of happiness. I prayed to be worthy of Tiya’s love and all that loved and depended upon me.

After breakfast, Priya and Mom took Tiya upstairs to get the bride ready. Soon after, Monaavi and Leeya took the girls up to get them dressed and ready themselves. Dad and I were drinking some tea at the table. He remarked, “All those years ago when Tiya first came to our home, I never would have believed that the little girl who couldn’t communicate with the outside world would become your wife.”

“Dad,” I replied, “me neither. I still find it hard to believe that after all these years I’m just learning who she really is. There’s a depth to her that is astounding profound at times. I never realized that I could love her this way, but I do.”

“Well, Son, I’m happy that this is happening: for her, for you and for our family. Well, I guess it’s about that time, wouldn’t you say?”

“Yes, Parson,” I quipped.

“You’re welcome, my son,” he quipped back making the sign of the cross.

I went up stairs to my room and Priya had my tux laid out on the bed. I changed and went downstairs, all giddy inside with pre-wedding jitters. Dad came down next, followed by each of my wives. Jamie was struggling to carry Hibbah down the stairs in her flowing formal dress and I took the child and set her in her wheelchair. I said to her, “Holy smokes, young lady, you sure do look beautiful today!”

She smiled and said, “This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever owned! I really do feel like a princess today.”

I smiled and replied, “See, I told you. You are a very beautiful princess, very beautiful.”

She hugged me with her good arm and said, “And you’re a very handsome king.”

“Why, thank you, Ma’am.”

Priya said as she pinned a white calla lily boutonniere to my lapel, “It’s time, Sean. Let’s go to the garden and wait for your bride to make her entrance.”

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I had carried Hibbah from the gate to the gazebo and set her down on a bench. We were all waiting, facing the gate and waiting for Pita to bring Tiya in. Pita was going to walk Tiya “down the aisle,” and Mom was going to be her matron of honor.

Priya had downloaded the wedding march and burned it to CD. We had a portable boom box ready to start when Tiya made her entrance. When Mom pushed the gate open, Priya started the music. Mom took several steps and Tiya appeared.

I started to cry when I saw her. She wore a simple, flowing wedding gown that was strapless. It had a beaded bodice and a skirt that flowed from her hips, slightly flaring outwards with a brocaded skirt and a wide, white satin bow on her left hip. The skirt had three layers, each ending about four inches above the other. She carried a beautiful bouquet of white calla lilies and roses. Her smiling face shone through her veil.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd. Tina gasped, “My god, she’s so beautiful!”

Everyone just nodded in agreement.

As she approached, I saw the tears trickle down her cheeks as she smiled at me. She and Pita stopped in front of me and Pita put her daughter’s hand in mine and said, “Sean, I give you my daughter. Love her and cherish her always.”

“I promise, Pita, I will.”

I took Tiya’s hand and turned to face my father. He began by saying, “We, as a family and before God, are gathered here today to witness the exchanging of the vows of love between two souls.

“Do you, Priya Michaels, as first wife and Matron of this family, agree to this marriage?”

“I do so with love.”

“And you, Aleeya Michaels, as second wife, do you agree to this marriage?”

“I do, Papa, with all my heart.”

“And you, Monaavi Michaels, as third wife, do you allow this marriage?”

“I do with love.”

“And you, Miko Michaels, as fourth wife, do you sanction this marriage?”

“Yes, Papa, with open arms.”

Turning to Tiya, Dad began again. “Do you, Attiya Pattel, take Sean Michaels as your wedded husband, to love, honor, cherish and obey in trust; for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad as long as you both shall live? And do you also accept your place among the sisterhood of wives and respect their positions as they respect yours?”

“I do.”

“And do you, Sean Michaels, take Attiya Pattel as your wedded wife, to love, honor and cherish and treasure her obedience in trust, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

Dad turned and asked, “The rings, please.”

Priya handed me Tiya’s band and Dad said, “Repeat after me as you place the ring on her finger. With this ring, I thee wed. I promise to love you, protect and care for you all the days of my life.”

As I slipped her ring on her finger, I repeated the vow.

Mom handed Tiya my ring and Dad repeated the vow. As she placed the ring on my finger, she repeated her promise.

Dad then said, “By the power vested in me by this family, I now pronounce you husband and wife. What God has joined, let no man tear apart.”

I slowly lifted my bride’s veil and kissed her tenderly, followed by cheers and clapping. I picked my young bride up in my arms and we slowly walked to the house. Dad picked up Hibbah as everyone else followed.

Dad had reserved a private room at Pierce’s Plantation, a very swanky restaurant, for a private, family meal. Everyone changed into semi-formal dress except Hibbah: she wasn’t taking that dress off for no one!

Aziza, at twenty-eight, was about Monaavi’s size. All the girls decided to wear formal, dress saris and Monaavi lent saris to Aziza and Jamie. Jamie, with her buxom figure and blushing face, was almost pouring out the top of her choli. Mom took her back upstairs and gave her one of hers. When they returned, Jamie was no longer displaying her womanly charms: to Dad’s dismay. He likes those big jugs like Mom’s.

Tiya said we could change together, but I told her I’d rather unveil her myself later on. She giggled and blushed and scampered upstairs to change. We took two cars: Dad, Mom, Pita, Aziza and the kids in the Expedition and I took my wives, Hibbah and Jamie in the van. All the way there, the girls were teasing Tiya about her wedding night and I had to tell them to cool it. I reminded them that tender ears were present. Hibbah gave a mock pout and said, “Just when it was getting good, too!”

We had a wonderful, jovial family dinner. Priya joked with Tiya saying, “Well, Sister, it’s now up to you. Either you give Sean a son, or everyone will divorce you!”

That was good for a few laughs and Tiya turned to me and asked, “When will you let me get pregnant?”

You could have heard a pin drop as everyone waited to hear my answer. I was going to say, “When you grow some boobs,” but I thought better of it. Leeya saved me by saying, “When you finish high school: just like me.”

I nodded and agreed saying, “That’s right; when you finish high school.”

“Shucks,” she replied with a smirk. “I was hoping you’d say when I turned sixteen.”

I amended things and replied, “We’ll see.”

She flashed those baby browns and smiled as if to say, “Yes!”

We arrived home about eight. There was no henna party because Tiya wanted an American wedding, so there weren’t any names to look for on her hands. She and Pita had become American citizens a year ago and she adopted her new country with open arms.

We were relaxing in the family room talking and Tiya scooted over onto my lap. Hibbah leaned forward a little, expecting to get an eyeful. With everyone looking on, Tiya said in a cute, little girl’s voice, “Husband, are you going to give me lots of gasms tonight?”

Mom sat up and said, “Leeya, are you at it again?”

Leeya giggled and replied, “Yes, Ma’am! Somebody has to get her prepared for the letch.”

Tiya kissed my nose and asked, “Well, are you?”

I chuckled and asked her in return, “That depends. Do you want to be able to walk tomorrow or not?”

Everyone snickered. Hibbah was asking Jamie what that meant. By the look of the conversation, Jamie was telling her to never mind.

Tiya came out of her shell and replied, “How about if I borrow Hibbah’s crutches?”

That broke the house up. Hibbah was sitting there probably thinking, “What, I don’t get it.”

“Okay, you little tart, crutches it is.”

I surprised her and scooped her up in my arms as I stood. She let out a “Yikes!” and giggled and I turned to go upstairs. She wrapped her arms around my neck and laying her head on my shoulder whispered in my ear, “I love you, Husband.”

I replied lovingly, “And I love you more.”