Child Brides of India

By C. Stanton Leman

Chapter 73: New Love (MggF, rom, cons, no sex)

The next four months just flew by. Priya, Sarah and Haseeba started college and after the first few weeks, settled into their regular routines. With all three women going to different schools, they didn’t see much of each other except sometimes on weekends. Priya would arrive home from school between four and five each day, right before I got home.

Faatina started to stand and was walking from one item to the other holding on as she went. Tina now ate in a high chair (if you could call the mess she made “eating”) and drank from a sippy cup. She openly called me Dada all the time now, but because she had so many women coddling her, she called them all “Mama,” except my Mom: she called her “Meme.” Whenever she wanted something or fell and started to cry, she’d cry out “Mama” and Priya, Monaavi and Leeya would come running!

Her potty training was spotty: sometimes she’d go, sometimes she wouldn’t; it all depended on her mood. She had Daddy wrapped tightly around her little finger too! As soon as I came in the door from work, I’d hear from whichever room she was in “Dada!” She’d then appear crawling like a cat with its tail on fire into the hallway to greet me.

I commented to Mom one night that Tina (thanks to Leeya, we shortened her name) could climb but wasn’t walking yet: weird. She would climb on a chair or piece of furniture including the tables but couldn’t get down and moaned for help. I happen to catch her one night trying to climb the bookcase! Leeya commented, “See, I told you she was a good climber!”

Sometimes, when the girls were at recess, Monaavi would hold her on her lap and let her pound the keys on the piano. “Start ‘em young,” she said.

Dad had returned to the States the month following my divorcing Tina, but Mom decided to stay and help attend to Tina. It had been almost six months and there was still no sign of Mahmoud: it was like he dropped off the face of the earth. The Imam said that after six months, Haseeba could get a divorce claiming abandonment and non-support. So, we just decided to wait it out.

Amaad had allowed Alpa to visit and see her daughter twice; each time she wouldn’t give Tina any indication that she was her real mother. Alpa said that she was happy that Tina was well cared for and loved and that she didn’t want to confuse Tina by forcing herself on her. She’d hold her and tenderly kiss her while playing with her. Deep down in her memory, Tina knew because she still nuzzled her mother’s cheek when held close. It was sad to see the pain on Alpa’s face knowing she wasn’t there to watch her baby grow up all over again.

Attiya’s aptitude also steadily improved. She was now reading a first grade primer and her speech was also clearer and more understandable. On the piano, she was learning to read sheet music and playing simple songs like a second year piano student. Every time we heard a song being played, it was usually Attiya doing the playing.

In November, two things happened that started the wheels turning leading up to events that would change our family forever. The first one came on Monday, the second week in November when I’d returned home after leaving for work to retrieve my briefcase. I entered quickly, evidently not drawing any attention to my coming home. As I passed the study, the girls were quietly working at the table and Monaavi had removed her veil to readjust it.

Looking into the study, I was stunned! She looked so breathtakingly beautiful! Standing facing the girls, her left profile was to me. She stood in an almost statuesque pose. I noticed for the first time she had a slender, young and smallish figure to her five foot three inch frame that didn’t draw attention to any one part of her figure because she always wore her saris loose so as not to reveal any details. She probably weighed about 115 pounds. Holding her veil in her right hand, she had her head tilted back, combing her wavy, almost curly long black hair with her fingers. Her hair was thick, blue-black like Priya’s and down to the middle of her back. She had small ears and a graceful thin neck. I noticed a small beauty mark just under her left ear. I almost gave my presence away with an audible gasp: she was that beautiful!

I quickly retrieved my briefcase and left immediately. All day at work, I couldn’t get the vision of her out of my head. All the fleeting glances at her over the last few months flooded back from memory like pieces of a mosaic that came together to form a complete image. Her large, light brown eyes that were so expressively warm, and on that day I remembered, were so sultry and smolderingly sexy. Monaavi has small, but full pink lips that easily offered a gentle, tender smile. Her small foot, the pinkness of her sole and toes, her slender, graceful hands and fingers, that beautiful long black wavy hair… Her face reminded me of a Bollywood actress named Preity Zinta.

I felt guilty about the stirring in my loins at thinking of her this way; guilty that I was somehow being unfaithful to Priya and Leeya by finding the nanny and teacher in my employ to be so beautiful. I also felt guilty that she was so innocent and devout and would never have thoughts such as mine about her employer and that I was somehow sinning against a devout woman for my covetousness.

I couldn’t understand how I’d seen this woman just about every day for months and never really paid attention to or took notice of her beauty before. I was further confused by the fact that she was a grown woman, and that reason alone sparked some confusion. Monaavi was the first adult woman to ever affect me like this. Second, she was three years older than I. Most Asian women prefer to marry an older man. Hell, most American women do too. I remembered my college days and how it was nearly impossible to get a girl to even give me a second look because I was younger than they were, despite my good looks and physique.

I knew that looking at her innocently and devoid of feeling would be almost impossible knowing that now I’d always see her in a different light given the close working relationship we had. I had to tell Priya about this otherwise, it could bring real complications if I withheld this from her and she deduced it on her own. God! What would Leeya think — or even Mom?

When I’d returned home from work, not wanting to reveal what my eyes might betray, I went directly upstairs to change and get ready for dinner. When I came back downstairs, Priya and Monaavi were talking in the study as the younger girls played on the piano. Monaavi seemed unsettled by my presence, blushingly gave her departing salaams and left for home.

I wondered: had she seen me looking at her?

Dinner was quiet with Leeya and Attiya making most of the noise and Tina making a mess in the high chair. After dinner and cleaning the little urchin of the dinner she decided to wear instead of eat, we put a light jacket on the baby and both of us donning the same, Priya and I took Tina for a walk in the cool evening air.

About ten minutes into our walk, I softly said to Priya, “I have something I need to tell you.”

Interested, Priya said, “Do tell.”

“Well,” I began, “I left my briefcase home this morning and had to come back for it. Anyway, when I returned I don’t think anyone heard me come in. When I walked past the study, I saw Monaavi with her veil off, readjusting it.”

“And?” she asked.

I made a sound like I was clearing my throat and said, “And I noticed her.”

“What’s that mean, Sean?” Priya inquired, “If you saw her you had to notice her. What are you trying to say?”

Struggling to find the right words to put this tactfully innocent I answered, “What I mean is, I really noticed her.”

“Oh?” she asked surprised, “What does ‘Really notice her’ mean, Sean?”

“Whew!” I let out loudly, “You’re really, really turning the screws on me, aren’t you?”

“No, Sean,” she replied, “I’m not. I want to understand what you’re trying to say but you’re being evasive. Say what you mean.”

“Promise me you won’t be angry or upset.” I asked.

“I think I know where this is leading,” Priya hinted, “and no, I won’t be angry or mad. Just tell me the truth.”

“Whew!” I exhaled again, “Okay. When I saw her standing there, all of a sudden, I was stunned and amazed at how breathtakingly beautiful Monaavi really is.”

Shaking her head and with a chuckle replied, “You know, for a letch, you sure are blind as a bat! The very first time I saw her, I thought she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Growing up as a little girl, in my dreams I wanted to look just like her.”

We stopped and she turned to me and continued, “She’s got skin almost as light as yours, she’s beautiful, graceful and elegant. What makes her all the more beautiful is that she doesn’t see it. Her shyness and lack of self-confidence makes her project a persona of being humble and unassuming. It’s not an act either.”

Having revealed the crux of what I wanted to say, I took courage and tried to explain by saying, “I don’t know why or what it was that made me suddenly see her, after all these months, as such a captivating woman. I have to admit to you my Beloved, I find her very desirable.”

Priya started to speak but I raised my hand and said, “No wait, let me finish. I feel so confused: confused that she’s our nanny and teacher and in my employ and confused that she’s the first adult woman to ever affect me in this way. I’ve only felt this kind of attraction to you, Leeya and Emmy. I also feel guilty that because of these feelings, I’m somehow being unfaithful to you and Leeya. What bothers me most is I’m not sure that now that I’ve seen her real beauty, I can effectively hide it. It’s bound to put a strain on our relationship and I don’t want to take away the positive guiding force in Attiya’s and to a certain degree, in Leeya’s life.”

“Well,” Priya revealed, “since we’re being honest, I’m sure you saw Monaavi and me talking when you came home. She saw you looking at her this morning, Sean but didn’t reveal the fact because she felt embarrassed and didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. She also said that although she’s not positive, she thinks you’ve been observing her lately.”

“Before today,” I answered, “it was innocent, no conscious thought of seeing her in any other light than a close family friend and caregiver. Oh God! What am I gonna do, Priya? I don’t want her coming to work every day and wondering if the “Letch” is ogling her, she’ll just leave.”

“First of all,” Priya said, “I’m not angry or mad: surprised, but not mad. I just find it ironic that you could see her every day for nine months and not see the beauty right in front of your face. Maybe you were preoccupied and blinded by the demon you’ve been struggling with.”

Shaking my head in disbelief I replied, “Jeez! How did you know?”

“You should know, Sean,” Priya pointed out, “that we are of one soul and spirit, joined by some invisible force. I almost know your every thought just as you know mine. Although not 100% positive, Leeya and I thought that you might have considered taking your life the night before you saw Dr. Gupta. Leeya’s no dummy either. We’re all spiritually connected somehow and we sensed a frightening danger in you that night. Both of us were terrified to open that bedroom door the next morning, afraid of what we might find.”

Tina was getting antsy so we turned for home, started walking again and continued our conversation. I told her of the recurring nightmare and how on that Wednesday night, the vision that was revealed to me. I admitted how ashamed I was of my inner struggle and why I couldn’t face her or Leeya with the truth because of how I felt about myself. I also told her I was a second away from slitting my wrist when Emmy’s voice spoke to me, explained the nightmare and that I had overcome my inner self. I told her of the foretold blessing, why Emmy had to die and about the note that I’d left and how I’d burned it.

As I was telling her this, she had her face covered with her hand on her brow silently crying. Ashamed, I walked in silence as she cried.

After a few minutes, Priya gave a composing sniffle, wiped her eyes and said, “Well praise Allah, that’s all in the past now. You’ve changed, you know? You’re more peaceful and self assured especially with Tina. You’re an excellent father, Sean as I always knew you’d be.”

“I’m trying, Priya,” I assured, “I’m really trying. Despite all of this, you’re still my soul mate and every breath I take. Leeya too, she’s so dear to me. I can’t imagine what life would be like without the two of you in my life. Now that this issue with Monaavi has come up, I don’t know what to do.”

“Up to now,” Priya answered, “it has been me that’s directed our lives: you marrying Leeya and later accepting the fact that Emmy should join us. I did this with the knowledge that I truly believed that it was the will of Allah but now I have no such direction. You’re the head of this family and now you and you alone must decide what direction our family will take. I cannot tell you what to do because I have confidences to keep and will not reveal them. All I can say is that Leeya and I will follow you to the ends of the earth into eternity knowing that what you decide is best for us. I will tell you this: you need to make your decision soon. Indecision for more than a month or so will see things unravel quickly.”

“What’s that mean?” I asked.

“You’re smart,” she replied cryptically, “You’ve got an IQ of 142. Figure it out.”

“Well,” I responded, “until I can sort things out, I’d rather avoid her than make her feel uncomfortable.”

“Suit yourself, Sean,” Priya stated, “but remember one thing. There are people’s feelings and futures at stake to take into consideration. Just keep that in mind.”

That statement marked the end of our conversation as we walked up to the front door. Before opening the door, I turned to Priya and asked, “What do I tell Leeya about all of this?”

“Don’t worry about Leeya,” she advised, “I’ll take care of Leeya. You just concentrate on what you have to do.”

Satisfied with her answer, I nodded silently and opened the door.

_____________________

The following Thursday would be Thanksgiving back in the States. Mom wanted Priya, Leeya, Tina, Monaavi, Pita and Attiya to experience this holiday of giving thanks for all our blessings. She went online and ordered a turkey, yams and cranberry sauce along with other trimmings and had it shipped. She told Pita that she would be fixing dinner and that Pita could learn how to prepare an American feast.

Monaavi seemed skittish the next few days and left right after her teaching duties were finished. I had a strange gnawing in my gut that she was considering leaving because she seemed to be trying to distance herself a little. I pondered everything in my heart at work the next few days, not accomplishing anything except to think about what life would be like without this remarkable woman in our lives.

Emmy’s words kept ringing in my head: “…She’ll become your wife and bring an innocent, deep and abiding love to your family beyond compare. Her love is as pure as the driven snow and as innocent as a newborn babe. She will give you what I never ever could.”

Over those next four days, as the pieces of the cryptic puzzle began to fall into place I said to myself, “It’s got to be Monaavi. She’s practically like a mother to Attiya, Leeya and even Tina. She’s repeatedly revealed her dream of becoming a mother. Our family would suffer an irrevocable loss if she left: and what of Attiya? Monaavi was her link to salvation and release from her autism. Having her as my wife and a permanent part of the family would complete our microcosm of a world.”

I almost laughed out loud to myself when I’d decided to ask Ravi for her hand: what if she said No? God! The fear of rejection felt overwhelming! She’s older than me. Would it seem like a young boy expressing his fancy to her? Would she take me seriously? What if she didn’t have feelings for me? Asking her to marry me would make her leave for sure! What of Mom and Dad: boy her eyes will sure pop when I spring this question! Dad may have a coronary!

I needed advice. The one person, who would tell me honestly, regardless of how she felt, was my mother. The Friday morning of that week, I dialed the house about one pm. Mom answered and after exchanging greetings she asked, “Sean, why so formal? Is there something on your mind?”

“Yes, Mom,” I replied, “I’m struggling.”

“Struggling? With what?” she asked.

“I need your advice,” I said. “What if I were to ask you, I mean…”

“What, Sean, spit it out.” she said impatiently.

“If you,” I began, “If you were faced with a situation where you felt in your heart that you needed to do something, and that something would change the lives of several people. If you believed that making this decision was truly the right thing to do, but you were afraid of it being rejected and disliked by some people, what would you do?”

She chuckled and replied, “Well, for being a genius, your question is kind of convoluted but I think I get the gist of it. This decision, do you need to make it right away? By that I mean is this one of those situations where there’s only a window of opportunity?”

“Yes, Mom,” I answered, “I believe the window is closing as we speak.”

I heard her sigh on the other end of the phone and she calmly answered, “Do you remember what I said about the best opportunities in life?”

“Vaguely,” I replied honestly.

“The best opportunities in life are easily recognizable once they’ve been lost. If you feel in your heart that your decision is for the enrichment and benefit of those affected, then to hell with what others think: do what you feel is right. Don’t go through life, castigating yourself that you were weak when it counted most and listened to your fears or the doubts of others. I like the way Priya always puts things, ‘If it’s ordained by God to happen, it shall come to pass.’ If you’re wrong, pick yourself up and fix it. God holds that gold ring just beyond your reach. If you want it, it requires a leap of faith. Follow your heart, Son and temper it with the love you have for those close to you and everything will work out. Just don’t go blindly into the night: make sure your family comes first.”

“It’s my family I’m thinking about,” I confided.

“If what you think and feel is right,” she advised, “then damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead. Do it!”

“Thanks, Mom,” I replied, “now for the shocker. I think you’d better sit down for this one! Are you sitting down?”

“Yeah,” Mom said tentatively, “I’d ready.”

“I need you to have the driver bring Leeya here to the office — immediately and as fast as he can. Make whatever excuse you need to Monaavi but get her here.”

“Why do you need Leeya at your office: why all the subterfuge?”

“Because, Mom,” I said as I dropped the hammer, “I’m gonna ask Ravi for Monaavi’s hand in marriage and I need to get Leeya’s approval face to face first.”

“OH-MY-GOD!” she gasped, “Do you mean… Are you… really?”

“Yes, Mom,” I affirmed, “Really!”

Silence.

“Mom?” I said.

“Mom? Are you there?” I asked.

“Well I’ll be damned!” she exclaimed, “Sean, if she accepts, this will be one of the most beautiful things to ever happen to this family! I’m so happy! Monaavi as my daughter-in-law! God! I can’t believe it!”

“Shhhh!” I warned, “She’ll hear you! I need to ask her father first. She mustn’t know anything yet. If he says no, then it’s all over. You just do what you have to do to get her to agree to come to Thanksgiving dinner. Got it?”

“Oh, I’ve got it alright!” she replied joyfully.

“Okay” I replied, “Get Leeya here pronto!”

“Yes sir!” she replied.

“Gotta go, Mom,” I said quickly. “Got things to do and fast. Talk to later. Love you.”

“And boy do I love you, Son!” she happily replied.

Click.

I dialed Priya’s cell not knowing if she was in class or not. She answered and I said, “You need to get here as quick as you can, I need to ask you something in person.”

“Do it, Sean!” she exclaimed. “Ask Monaavi’s father for her hand. Don’t wait for me. I’ve already talked to Leeya about the possibility and she’s just bonkers over the idea. I had to about tie her up she was so happy! Your wives want this as much as you do! Ask him!”

“But,” I replied, “I told Mom to get Leeya here so I could get her permission in person; Mom’s probably hustling Leeya in the car at this moment.”

“I’ll call Mom. Does she know?” Priya asked.

“Yeah,” I answered, “I think she’s about to have a baby over it!”

Priya laughed and replied, “She can’t: that’s Monaavi’s job.”

“What?” I asked surprised.

“Remember what I asked you about being the first to have a baby?” Priya asked.

“Yeah, why?” I inquired.

“I’ve changed my mind,” Priya answered with a giggle, “Monaavi’s twenty-three and wants a baby so bad she might get pregnant if you even look at her sexy!”

“I love you, Priya,” I cooed to her.

“I know,” she assured, “I love you more. Leeya and I have been on pins and needles waiting for you to see the light. Monaavi will make our family complete, Sean. This is the right thing to do.”

“Now all I have to do,” I said, “is get Ravi’s permission and hope she doesn’t shoot me down in flames.”

“Well, Sweetie,” Priya teased, “you just might be surprised. I’ve gotta get to class, good luck! Bye.”

Click.

Scared shitless, my hand trembled as I picked up the phone. I dialed Ravi Rupak’s extension and when he picked up with a hello, I froze and didn’t speak.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” he said blindly into the phone.

“Uh, yes,” I stuttered, “Mr. Rupak could you please come to my office?”

“Sean?” Ravi asked, “Is everything Okay? Why so formal?”

“Just come, Ravi,” I requested, “We’ll speak in a moment.”

“Be right there, Sean,” he replied.

As I waited for his knock on the door, I was suddenly as scared as a kid who just broke the neighbor’s window. My palms started sweating, I got a dry mouth and my knees started to feel weak.

Knock. Knock.

“Come in,” I responded (I think my voice cracked).

“Have a seat please,” I offered at I waved to the chair.

Ravi sat silent for a few moments waiting for me to speak. He raised his hand to begin talking when I put up my hand requesting him to wait. I started slowly with “Uhhh.” Good start idiot!

“Uh,” I began again, “There’s something I need to ask you and it’s a little difficult.”

“Just ask,” he said reassuringly, “if I can, I’ll give you whatever you ask of me.”

With that, I almost choked! I gave a tentative smile and said, “I hope you don’t regret that statement in a minute.”

“What is it, Sean?” Ravi asked a little impatiently.

“Here goes,” I began, “As you well know Monaavi has been with our family for about nine months now.”

Ravi interrupted me and asked, “She hasn’t done anything to displease you, has she?”

“Oh no!” I reassured, “Nothing like that! As I was saying, Monaavi has been with us a while and my family and I think of her as a part of our family.”

“Whew!” he said relieved.

“Anyway, this may come as a shock to you, but over the last month or so, my feelings for Monaavi have changed.”

He looked at me with skepticism and asked, “In what way?”

“I have fallen in love with your daughter, Ravi,” I blurted out, “and I wish to ask you for her hand in marriage.”

Ravi slumped back in his chair, looked at me like “Huh?” and replied, “Really?”

I silently nodded.

“Let me reassure you,” I explained, “my behavior towards her has been strictly professional and I know she doesn’t know we are discussing this matter.”

Leaning forward in his chair after recovering, he asked me, “And what do your wives think about this?”

I chuckled and replied, “They feel that if I don’t find a way to marry her, they’ll divorce me. They love her as much as I do and want this wholeheartedly”

I went on to explain the whole sequence of events and how much Monaavi truly means to our family and Pita’s. I told him I suspect that she knows I see her in a different light and seems uncomfortable to continue working under our current relationship. I told him I didn’t know if Monaavi had feelings for me, and whether or not she’d reject my proposal of marriage. I just felt that I wanted her in my life forever and so does my family: that’s how important she’s become to us.

He asked if we could call his wife and discuss this on speakerphone. I nodded and he went to the desk and dialed the number. We heard his wife say hello and Ravi said, “You’d better sit down, love, we need to talk of marriage.”

I heard a gasp and the receiver hit the floor.

“Hello?” Ravi asked.

“Yes, Ravi,” she replied, “I’m here.”

“Sean Michaels has asked for Monaavi’s hand,” Ravi said pointedly.

“Gasp! What of his wives? What do they say?” she inquired.

“Well,” he responded, “the way Sean puts it, if he doesn’t marry her, they just might divorce him. They love her as much as he does.”

“Monaavi does love his family deeply. Do you think she might accept?” she asked her husband.

Ravi looked at me and I answered, “I’m not sure, Mrs. Rupak. What I’d like to do, if I have yours and Ravi’s permission to court Monaavi, is to invite the three of you to dinner on Thursday evening at which time I’ll ask her in the presence of our families if she’ll agree to an engagement of marriage. I would make one request, and that is, that she not be told of this matter until I ask her at dinner.”

Silence.

More silence.

“Ravi? How do you feel about this?” she asked.

“Will you give her a child: it’s her heart’s desire?” Ravi asked.

“Yes I will,” I affirmed.

“I give my blessing,” Ravi answered, “and you, Hindi?”

“I stand with you, Ravi,” Hindi replied.

Ravi turned to me, shook my hand smiling and said, “I guess we come to dinner on Thursday, right?”

Smiling, I assured them by saying, “If Monaavi accepts, I’ll do all within my power to make her life a happy and fulfilled one — starting with a child.”

“My sweet Lord: a grandchild!” Hindi spoke through the phone, “We know you will, Sean; otherwise we wouldn’t be giving you our blessing.”

Looking at me with a sly grin, Ravi said, “You know, it will be a very interesting six days at home, won’t it, Hindi?”

She laughed and replied, “Very interesting indeed!”

Ravi and I offered our departing salaams to Hindi and disconnected. I called Mom and gave her the news and she about peed herself from the excitement. She said Leeya knew what was going on and Mom was afraid the little munchkin would give it away. I told her I’d see her tonight. I asked her if she’d asked Monaavi about dinner and she said that Monaavi was balking and was trying to gracefully say no. I told her that I’d see to it when I got home and disconnected the call.

I called Priya and she was just leaving class and when I told her, she dropped the phone but I heard an “Eeeek” of joy before she picked it back up. Now with her parent’s approval, Priya asked me “When are you going to ask her”

“Thursday, at Thanksgiving dinner,” I replied. “Monaavi’s parents will be there also.”

“Yikes!” Priya exclaimed, “I can’t wait!”

After disconnecting with Priya, I turned to Ravi and said, “Well, I guess we’ll find out how Monaavi feels about all this soon.”

“Well,” Ravi smiled and said as he stood, “I guess I’d better get back to work since my boss will be my son-in-law.”

“Boss hell,” I replied, “I think you just inherited a percentage of the company!”

“Thank you, Son,” he laughingly retorted, “Then I’d like the title of President In charge of Grandchildren!”

“You’ve got it!’ I confirmed.

“Well if you’ll excuse me,” I said with a smile as I grabbed my jacket, “I have to go and try to convince a certain beautiful young woman to accept a dinner date.”

My future father-in-law offered me a piece of advice by saying, “Let her see your blue eyes and the love you have for her, she’ll melt like butter.”

“I’ll remember that,” I replied as I walked out the door.

I arrived home at four thirty. Leeya had a shit-eating grin on her face and Attiya was oblivious, lost in her own little world as Mozart’s prodigy and playing the piano. Mom held the secret like a diplomat when I entered. Monaavi was holding Tina and when my daughter cried “Dada!” Monaavi turned to look at me.

She lowered her head as I walked to her. I approached her slowly looking down also. When I saw she was watching me, I slowly looked up and into her eyes as I took my child from her arms.

“Hi.” I said softly.

Monaavi blushed, looked down and said, “Hi.”

“Did Mom ask you to dinner Thursday?” I asked.

“Yes,” Monaavi said, “but I wouldn’t want to intrude on your family holiday, so I must respectfully decline.’

I smiled softly at her and commented, “You know, I and my family would be very offended if you didn’t come. You’ve become like family to us and if you refuse to come, dinner will be ruined. What’s a family dinner without all the family? In fact, I’ve invited your parents and they’re excited to come. What will you do? Sit home alone?”

Monaavi gave me a coy smile and replied, “You’re up to something, aren’t you?”

God her eyes are captivating!

“Who me?” I asked innocently, “I’m just a lowly toe sucking wimp controlled by a houseful of females. You give me far too much credit.”

She blushed and giggled and replied, “Okay, Wimp, since you put it that way and my parents are coming, how can I refuse?”

Putting my hand to my heart, I bowed and said humbly, “My wives thank you, my child and mother thank you and my heart thanks you.”

Monaavi playfully slapped my shoulder, blushed, giggled and said, “Alright, alright, I said I would come.”

“Thank you, Teacher;” I answered politely, “You’ve made my day.”