Child Brides of India

By C. Stanton Leman

Chapter 44: Adjusting (Mgg, rom, cons, no sex)

After completing our morning ritual, we went back downstairs to rejoin the family. I’d decided not to present the girls with their presents until Priya had time to ride with us. I didn’t think it fair to do so otherwise.

When we’d returned to the breakfast room, Emma was finished eating and sullenly talking with Mom. When she saw Priya she immediately rushed to her arms. Priya suggested that she help Emma with a bath; fix her hair and a change of clothes. Emma just nodded “Yes.” Priya then took her upstairs to attend to her needs.

Aleeya went out with Dad exploring as Mom and I sat and talked. I asked Mom if Dad had made any arrangements for Liz. She nodded and replied, “Yes. The first viewing will be tonight from six to eight. I don’t think I want Emma there until Wednesday, the last night. The funeral will be on Thursday morning followed by the burial and wake.”

Sighing, she continued with, “I haven’t given her any more medication, but she’ll probably need it on those two days. I’m sitting here in a funk wondering how the rest of our “beloved” family will react when they see little Emma.”

Her anger rose as she went on, “It just pisses me off when I think about what some of my own family said. My sister is probably rolling over in her grave right now as we speak!”

Looking up at me with tearful eyes she said, “I don’t know what’s going to happen with her. I can keep her for a while, but I’m too tired and old to raise another child.”

“Mom,” I began, “you’re not old. You’re only forty-two. It really bothers me to hear you say that. Don’t think like that. I always believed you to be the type that didn’t think or act your age; you just lived life to the max.”

Mom “Humpf’d” and said, “Wait ‘til you’re forty-two and say that. When your father and I got married, I always thought that when I reached this stage in life my children would be grown and I’d be able to spend time with John just like it was when we first married: just him and me.”

A tear dropped to her cheek as she went on saying, “Just look around, Sean. We’ve got this gigantic house, you’re in India and we’ve made our fortune. I don’t know… I guess I’m just crying in my beer because I’m feeling a little selfish, but I want to enjoy my golden years with my husband. Is that too much to ask for after all these years of hard work?”

Feeling her sadness I replied, “Mom, Priya and I would take her if it weren’t for the fact that I’m married to Aleeya — and she’s three years younger than Emma. If we took her back to India with us, it wouldn’t take her long to figure out that Aleeya’s and my relationship isn’t a father/daughter one.”

Leaning in to make my point, I continued with, “And if I or Priya suggested that I marry her too, that would be ‘three strikes and you’re out’ as far as Dad is concerned.

“We made the argument that Aleeya grew up in a different culture, with different views on what age to marry, polygamy, lifestyle and such; and that under the circumstances it was the right thing to do. There’s no such rationale with Emma.”

Mom gave an ironic chuckle and replied, “You’re probably right there, it’d go over like a crap in church! Besides, I can’t wrap my head around you and Emma together that way.”

I asked her, “Have you talked to Priya about what might happen to Emma?”

Shaking her head she replied, “No, not yet. We haven’t had any time. Emma’s glued so tight to Priya at the moment it’s a wonder she has room to breathe. If you can, see if you can wean her away from Priya for a while and give the poor girl a break”

I said to her, “I’ll try, Mom, I’ll see what I can do.”

Mom got that devilish gleam in her eye and quipped, “You’re good with little girls; turn on the charm.”

“Ouch, Mom!” I rebutted. “That hurt. I’m merely a victim of circumstance.”

Smiling, she replied, “And a happy recipient from what I can tell.”

Changing the subject, I said, “Priya and I were talking this morning and were wondering what the chances were of her and me having a night together. What do you think?”

With a shrug Mom replied, “I told Priya this was going to be difficult and I don’t see any chance of Emma letting go until probably after the funeral.”

She kind of grimaced and threw her hands up and said, “This whole thing just sucks! The timing, the circumstances, everything! I’m so tired of being sad, burying family members, being strong for others, wiping noses and such…”

Mom put her head in her hands and cried, “I’m only human and there’s a limit to my fortitude. None of these bastards in the family have ever offered to comfort me or even ask how I’m doing! They think just because we could live like kings if your father retired tomorrow that life is a fucking rose garden! I’m tired, Sean, and I need to recharge or I feel like I’m gonna crash and burn!”

I rose and enfolded my mother in my arms as she cried herself out. I just gave a sigh thinking What can I do? as she sobbed in my arms.

Mom blubbered herself out enough to lay her head in the nape of my neck and softly say, “I thank God every day for Priya! She’s my best friend. Who would ever believe that a twelve year-old girl could be best friends to a forty-two year old woman?

“In the past ten years she’s the only one with whom I can unburden myself, woman-to-woman and receive comfort and support instead of an extended hand with an ulterior motive. What impresses me the most is that she can keep my confidence: even from you if I ask her to. She truly loves me as a person, as a friend, and a daughter - not a daughter-in-law.”

I smiled and kissed her forehead and replied, “You got that right, Mom! As far as she’s concerned, she feels exactly the same way about you. She loves you more than her own mother.”

Looking up, she replied, “Don’t say that, Sean, I could never take Salima’s place.”

“True,” I said, “but her love for you is different: stronger and more encompassing. Salima was jealous at first, but she seems very happy about it now. She realizes that a friendship and bond like you two share is a rare and precious thing, and that you’re both better people because of it.”

As soon as I’d finished speaking Emma and Priya entered the room. Emma was now the very pretty girl I remembered with clean, combed and shiny light blonde curls. Her rosy pink cheeks accented her alabaster skin and I noticed again the sprinkling of freckles across her cheekbones and nose. Her thighs were thicker than both of the other girls, but not fat and her legs had a nice tapered shape. She had a nice round little butt almost the size of Priya’s. She had on a pair of denim shorts and a pink halter-top.

Emma isn’t fat, but kind of fleshy and I could see two small, cone-like puffy nipples sticking out of her top. As I looked at her tiny titty buds, I got a rush and Priya saw it. She smiled at me letting me know she knew what I was thinking. Embarrassed, I looked away but when I looked back at Priya, she was still smiling at me.

Thinking about what Mom said, I thought I might as well “turn on the charm,” so to speak, so I asked Emma, “Want a nice cuddle? Come here and let me hold you.”

Emma gave me a subdued smile and came and sat on my lap. She sat sideways and I put my arms around her with my right arm around her chest. As I hugged her to me, I felt her soft, puffy nipples come in contact with my forearm. Being fuller than Priya or Aleeya, she felt soft and inviting as I held her. I started to firm up and I was hoping she didn’t feel me against her thigh.

I could smell the peach scent of her shampooed hair as I kissed her forehead saying, “There, isn’t it nice to be cuddled?”

Emma silently nodded against my chest. Priya sat down next to Mom, looked at me, smiled and said, “She’s all pretty and pink! Don’t you think?”

Craning my head down to look at her I replied, “Lovely! You look as pretty as the night we met in India. What do you think about India? Did you like your visit?”

Emma looked up at me with her azure blue eyes, smiled and replied with a little emotion, “I think it’s so beautiful there, especially some of the temples we saw. Priya looked so beautiful that night, and her wedding dress was so beautiful she looked like a princess! I’d like to have a wedding dress like that some day.”

Smiling I asked, “You would?”

Smiling back, she nodded yes.

Priya interjected, “Well, I don’t think that they wear wedding dresses like that here. Here the bride wears white. In India, white is a color of mourning and we don’t wear white on our wedding day.”

I think all of us realized at the same time that Priya had slipped and said white was a color of mourning. We just hung on waiting for a response from Emma. Emma sat up and asked Mom, “Then can I wear white to Mommy’s funeral?”

Smiling, Mom replied, “Sure, Honey. I don’t see why not.”

Emma asked Priya, “Why do they wear white instead of black?”

Priya answered, “Because we believe that when we die and go to heaven it’s a joyous and happy thing. In heaven, there’s no pain or suffering: just happiness at being with God.”

Emma looked down and replied, “I know Mommy’s in heaven with God and Daddy now. I think I’ll wear white because she doesn’t have any more pain.”

The tears started to run down her rosy cheeks as she continued, “My heart hurts because she’s not here with me, but I know she doesn’t have any more pain or sickness.”

Reaching across the table and taking her hand, Priya smiled and replied, “That’s right, Sweetie. Now in heaven, your mommy doesn’t have any more cancer, or pain, or sickness. She has a new reborn body that is perfect. She’s sad because she’s not with you anymore, but she’s happy and looking down on you with your Daddy.”

Patting her hand, Priya continued, “She knows that all of us love you and will take care of you.”

Taking her hand, Emma asked, “Priya, can I come and live with you and Sean in India? I promise to be good. I don’t want to think about not being with you because you are my bestest friend.”

Smiling, Priya replied, “We’ll see. There’s a lot of time to think about it before we return to India, okay?”

Emma nodded and laid her head back against my chest. Changing the subject, Mom perked up and said, “We’ve been stuck in this house for two days, let’s get out and take a look around. Whatcha all say?”

Everyone agreed and we rose to go outside. We have a second garage next to the house where we keep three 4-wheel ATV’s to roam the property. Entering the garage, Priya looked at the ATV’s and asked, “What are these? We’re gonna ride on these things?”

I laughed and replied, “Yeah, the place is too big to walk so we have these to get around on. They’re safe and will go through just about anything: snow, water, mud. They’re also kind of fun to ride.”

She also noticed a huge Toyota 4-wheel drive Tundra pick-up truck outfitted with a winch and plow attachment and exclaimed, “Boy! What’s that? It’s huge!”

Again laughing, I replied, “That’s what we use to pick up and distribute feed and hay for the horses and it has a plow: see it over there sitting in the corner? Anyway we use the plow in the wintertime to plow the snow off of the driveway.”

Mom, standing next to the ATV asked Priya, “Do you want to try driving this thing or do you want me to drive?”

Looking scared, Priya shook her head no and I said, “Go ahead and give it a try! I’ll pull it out for you and let you ride around the lot a few times and get used to it first, all right?”

She got a devilish smile on her face and nodding said, “Okay, it looks like it might be fun.”

Mom patted her on the back and said, “Atta girl, go for it!”

I started it up and pulled it out of the garage and pointed it towards the drive. I gave her a helmet and told her, “Here, put this on. We never get on one of these things without a helmet.”

Nodding, I helped her put on the helmet and had her sit in the driver’s seat. I showed her where the gas pedal was, the brakes, clutch and how to shift gears. Applying the brakes, I had her push in the clutch and put it in first. I told her “When you get moving put it in second gear like this, okay?”

She nodded and I stepped around and climbed on the back. When she took her foot off the brake and started to move, the thing lurched and I yelled out, “Give it some gas!”

Moving forward in lurches, like someone learning to drive a car with a standard stick shift, I yelled again, “More gas!”

She eased the pedal down and began to move. She was stiff as a board with fear so I yelled to her, “Relax, you’re doing fine. Shift into second gear.”

Grinding a pound of gear, she managed to get into second and gave it some gas as we rode down the road about ten or fifteen mph. We rode down to the gate and as we neared I reached around her waist and steered her off the road to make wide turn around. The bumpy off-road ride scared her a little, but once back on the road, she was having a ball!

We pulled up at the garage and she applied the brake without releasing the clutch and she lurched three times and stalled out. Emma and Mom stood nearby laughing.

Getting off and coming around to face her, Priya had a cheese-eating grin on her face and exclaimed, “That was fun! Let’s go exploring!”

Mom said, “I’ll ride with Priya, you go with Emma.”

I agreed and Emma asked, “Can I drive, Poppy taught me how to do it and we ride all the time?”

“Sure,” I replied smiling, “Just don’t go getting any speeding tickets, okay?”

Slapping my arm, she replied giggling, “You can’t get a speeding ticket here on the property, silly.”

Continuing to rib her I replied, “Alright, Mario Andretti, let’s go!”

Slapping me again, with helmet on, she climbed on the one in the garage, started it and backed it out like a champ. I climbed on behind her and she turned it around as we waited for Priya to get started again. After a couple of false starts, we got moving slowly down towards the pond.

Once moving, I placed my hands on Emma’s hips. I looked down and saw her tight, round little butt as she sat with her legs open straddling the ATV. Seeing her legs spread, I had a devilish thought about what it would be like to be between her legs and feasting on her honey pot.

Not being able to resist the thought, I started to harden and I reached around a little further and gently let my hands rest on her lower stomach. I felt a small pillow of fat that was invitingly soft. I brought my hands back some to rest on her hips again. They had a nice soft rounded curve and I could barely feel her hipbones.

I was now hard as a rock and thought I’d better get a handle on my dick because we were getting close to the pond. Moms had Priya turn and pull up alongside the pond about twenty feet from the water’s edge and stop.

Luckily, I quelled my hard on (I thought) and we all got off to look around. I must still have had a slight bulge in my jeans because Priya gave me another coy smile.

They say, “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.” So I hurriedly said to Priya, “Well, this is the lake I told you about. We use it for irrigation and sometimes we go swimming here during the summer also.”

Still smiling she replied, “I didn’t know riding one of these things could be so much fun. Did you?”

Caught!

(Come on asshole baffle her with some bullshit!)

Responding nonchalantly I said, “I don’t know. After the first couple of times, the thrill is gone.”

Enjoying my uneasiness, Priya looked down at my crotch and replied with a smile, “Looks to me like you haven’t lost the thrill… yet”

Mom chuckled: she knew what was going on. Emma missed the double entendré and said to Priya, “It’s pretty down here isn’t it?”

With her continued smile, Priya looked at me and replied, “Yeah, there’s a lot of beauty around here.”

Mom, probably thinking Priya had milked it enough injected, “Alright you two, let’s have a lazy look around.”

The reparteé over, Priya nestled in under my arm and put her arm around the back of my waist and replied, “Yeah, let’s have a look around.

We took several steps and surprisingly, Emma nestled herself under my other arm and we followed Mom with me, arm-in-arm with a set of lovely salt and pepper little girls.

Falling several steps back to come alongside Priya, Mom said, “The guys like to swim down here sometimes, but I use the pool. There’s fish in this pond and the last time I swam here, one brushed against my leg and scared the shit out of me!”

Priya and Emma giggled and Priya asked, “There’s fish in there?”

“Yeah,” I replied, “a few lake trout and some small-mouth bass. I think the longest one I’ve caught here was about a foot long, but that was two summers ago.”

“Hmmm,” Priya said, “It must be nice to catch fresh fish. Maybe you could teach me.”

Emma chimed in with, “Oh, it’s fun! Poppy and I caught a big one a couple of weeks ago. When I pulled it from the water it was flip-flopping all over the place. I was kind of sad though because Aunt Abby cooked it for dinner.”

Chuckling, Mom said, “That’s right, I’d forgotten about that! Sean, you’d have been proud. It was a bass about sixteen inches long, a real beauty and tasty too!”

“Ah hah!” I said jokingly as I looked down at Emma, “So now you’re a real angler, are you?”

Smiling up with an affirmative nod she replied, “Yep!”

Looking at her watch, Mom said, “It’s getting on, let’s ride the fence line and then head back to the house. We have to get something to eat and get ready for this evening.”

Agreeing, we split up and went to our respective ATV’s. Putting on our helmets I asked Emma, “Do you still want to drive or do you want me to?”

“No. If it’s okay with you,” she replied, “I like to drive. Besides, I need the practice.”

Nodding, I climbed on behind her as she started up the engine. We followed Priya and Mom along the fence line and I placed my hands at the curve of Emma’s waist. I started to get hard again when I looked down and imagined what it would be like to be inside her tiny ass, stroking in and out while I peeled her plump, alabaster butt cheeks open and watched her pink anal ring pull away from her body as I withdrew.

Damn! I’m such a fucking pervert! I thought to myself. Not wanting a repeat of the verbal sparring down at the pond, I quelled my dirty thoughts by concentrating on Liz’s first viewing at the funeral home this evening.

Priya was now getting the hang of driving and after circling the property we pulled up in front of the garage. I got off and Emma parked ours and after Priya unseated herself, Mom parked the other ATV inside next to Emma’s.

We went inside and got cleaned up for a bite to eat when Aleeya and Dad came in the back door. She came running over and leapt into my arms and exclaimed, “We had a great time, didn’t we, Poppy? We rode on 4-wheel thingy and I got to steer! It was lots and lots of fun!”

With everyone laughing at her joy, I replied, “You got to steer? Wow! That’s great! We were out there too I can’t imagine why we didn’t see you.”

Dad smiled and said, “We were down at the hay barn. She spent some time climbing around in the loft while I shifted a few bales.”

“I see,” I replied as I picked a few pieces of hay from her hair. “Looks like you had a ball, huh?”

“Oh yes!” she replied, “It was super!”

“Super?” I asked, “You’re in America two days and already sounding like an Ah-mur-uh cun! Now, go get washed up to eat.”

Abby was getting everything ready for a cookout when Priya asked, “What are we having?”

Abby held up a plate of raw hamburgers and said, “The American classic: barbequed hamburgers with salad and chips!”

Cautious, Priya asked, “Is that beef, if so, has it been approved by a cleric as being suitable for Muslims?”

Abby patted her shoulder and replied, “Yup! Your mom got all the meats from a certified Muslim store. Don’t worry, okay?”

Satisfied, Priya nodded and began to help Abby with things. Once everything was set up on the deck and the table was set, I showed Priya how to grill hamburgers. Emma and Aleeya were stuffing their mouths with soda and chips when Mom scolded them saying, “Alright girls, that’s enough junk. You’ve got make room for the food.”

Giggling, they stopped stuffing their faces. After grilling up some hamburgers and beef hot dogs, we sat to a nice cookout lunch.

Aleeya had a hamburger and two hot dogs. She said she really liked the hot dogs the best. Priya got embarrassed when she bit into her hamburger and the juice ran down the side of her mouth and she leaned over her plate to catch the drippings.

Chuckling I said, “That’s why they’re so good! Nice and juicy: not like those fast food places where the meat is dry. Good, huh?”

With her cheeks bloated and chewing, she smiled and nodded in agreement. With full stomachs and feeling lazy, we sat back and talked about inconsequential things. Aleeya an endless bundle of energy, headed off to the play-set.

To everyone’s surprise, Emma rose and came to me and sat down on my lap and put her arms around my neck, laying her head on my shoulder. Acting like nothing was wrong, all of us again continued with our conversation as she sat just listening. I put my right hand around her and placed my hand on her hip while I continued to talk.

Priya smiled at me and then at Mom. There was something going on in her head, and I wanted to talk to her (or Mom) about it. Mom whispered something in Priya’s ear and Priya got up and said to Emma, “Let’s go inside for a minute, okay?”

Emma looked up, nodded and rose to follow Priya into the house. Once inside, Mom said that she didn’t want to talk about the viewing tonight in front of Emma. Today was the first day she’d acted somewhat normal and Mom didn’t want to spoil it for her.

She asked, and I agreed to go to the viewing tonight with her and Dad. Dad said we’d have to leave here about five to be at the funeral home by six. Mom said that she’d talked to Priya and that Priya would watch both the girls tonight for us.

The three of us agreed that we should help Abby clean up and start to get ready. I looked at my watch and it was now 3:10. After clearing the table, I looked for Aleeya.

Aleeya was still going strong on the jungle gym. As I watched her, I shook my head in wonder. I thought about the complexity of the human spirit as I watched her play with childish reckless abandon.

Watching her, she looked like any other five year-old playing carefree, seemingly without a worry in the world. How could she be so childlike in some respects and the other side of her is a little minx? Somehow, it was a juxtaposition of identities: one childlike, the other a woman. How does she keep the two in place?

As I continued to watch her, she’d giggle as she moved from the slide to the rings and over to the climbing rope. She truly looked happy. Not like that day in India when we had the confrontation with her mother. That day, she was frightened, in pain: both physically and emotionally and feeling unloved and unwanted.

Now she looked comfortable with a confidence in knowing that she was loved and cared for. No wonder Christ said to us that we should come to Him as children. Realizing something, I nodded within myself as I agreed that no one has the capacity to love as a child does.

I had seen both sides of this tiny little imp: the side that was childlike and wanted reassuring cuddles, hugs and kisses, and the side that looked at me with passion as she drove my erect member into the depths of her belly…

God, I love her so much! That thought brought with it a pride of having the privilege to share both sides of her, but also sadness when I thought about why having a child in such a manner was such a driving force within me.

I remembered the erection I’d gotten fueled by my imagination on that ATV with Emma earlier. Could I have her? Would I? If she were handed to me on a silver platter, would I partake?

Being honest with myself, that was a stupid question. I’d feast as if at a royal banquet. It seemed strange to me though that I didn’t look at all little girls and lust after them, only those that were close to me in some way; only those that I had a love for anyway. Why?

I was brought back to reality when Mom came up and hugged me from behind and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Smiling, I replied “Oh, just watching Aleeya and wondering if I did the right thing by marrying her.”

Mom sighed and rubbing my chest from behind replied, “Look at her, she’s happy! She’s happy with herself, with you and with the relationship the three of you have. She’s well adjusted and confident enough to express her needs and desires. What do you think? I think you made the only decision that would produce the happy little girl you see before you.”

I turned and hugged my Mom and replied with a smile, “Thanks, Mom. Like Priya, you always know what to say to ease my fears.”

Mom smirked and said, “I didn’t say it to ease your fears, I said it because it’s the truth. Only you can deal with your fears.”

“Yeah,” I said, “I guess you’re right about that. What about Emma?”

Releasing me she replied, “There’s a lot of time to talk about Emma. Let’s deal with the here and now and get past the funeral. I have a feeling that Emma’s fate will take care of itself.”

“Maybe you’re right,” I said. “We’d better get ready to go soon.”

“Unfortunately yes,” Mom said with a sigh. “I’m not looking forward to this at all. Come on, let’s get on with it.”

We turned together and walked into the house leaving my playful, happy five year-old wife to play in her own little world. After showering and getting dressed, I went downstairs to the breakfast room. Aleeya was just coming in from outside, while Priya and Emma were playing monopoly. Aleeya excitedly asked, “Oh boy, can I play?”

Looking at Emma, Emma nodded and Priya replied, “Alright, we’ll start a new game.”

As the three girls reset the game board to begin a new game, I kissed the girls, including Emma goodbye. Mom and Dad were ready so we gathered our things and left.

Riding to the funeral home, I thought about how much I really hate funerals and all the polite things we do in reverence for the dead; that somber etiquette people display while trying to appear strong over the loss of a loved one.

Upon arriving we were greeted by Mom’s older sister. By the tense conversation, I had a feeling that this was going to be an arduous ordeal. Liz looked good laying there at peace as of now her pain was truly gone.

The rest of Mom’s family sporadically appeared and although tense, there were no venomous remarks or terse insults. We got through the first night and on the way home, we were all emotionally drained and quiet.

Dad tried to break the silence with talk of business, but Mom sharply snapped, “Not now, John, I’m not in the mood to hear this shit.”

One thing all men learn is that when the woman is pissed, shut your mouth and keep quiet giving her a wide birth.

Dad replied, “Yes, Dear.”

Upon arriving home, we found the girls in the family room watching TV. I told Priya we need to say prayers, but she replied, “We already have. Even Emma prayed with us.”

That got raised eyebrows from the three of us, and I shrugged and said, “Well, I have to say mine. I’ll be upstairs.”

She responded with, “Alright, go ahead. We’ll be up in a little while.”

I went upstairs to pray. About an hour later, the three girls came in and sat on the bed talking. After about fifteen minutes of girl talk, it was near ten-fifteen. Priya saw the time and said, “I think we should call it a day. Come on, Emma, let’s get ready for bed.”

Emma nodded and rose with Priya. I hugged and kissed Priya goodnight and after we’d exchanged “I love you’s,” they then headed for Emma’s bedroom.

Aleeya and I got undressed, peed (she giggled with delight as she played fireman with my pissing dick), and climbed into bed. She snuggled her tiny butt against me in a spoon and said, “I love you, Sean, you make me so very happy!”

Kissing her on the top of her head I replied, “I’m glad because you make me very happy too!”

She turned and looking over her shoulder asked me, “Can I sleep on top of you tonight so you can hold by butt? I love to go to sleep that way. You keep all the monsters away when you hold me.”

With a chuckle, I smiled and replied, “Sure, Sweetheart, I don’t want any monsters visiting either! Come here!”

She climbed up on top of me and I held a tiny, honey colored butt cheek in each hand. She straddled her legs alongside my torso. I felt her smooth, puffy, baby fat pussy lips on my stomach and said to myself, “Life doesn’t get any better than this!”

We fell asleep like that, keeping our monsters at bay.