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 happened. I
voiced my fear that Monaavi may 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 the next morning would be the best time.
The following 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 going to 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 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 an 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 at 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 to touch
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 and 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 nod. I went to Leeya, knelt in front of her and
enfolded her in my arms. She clung to me like 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 the next morning and everything was okay, I forgot
about it. Does this mean that now that you’re gonna marry Monaavi that 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, “Absolutely not, 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
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, you are the
only one who’s brought that kind of love to our entire family.”
Monaavi sat back down as she wiped 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 ever 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 into my arms
and said, “I’ll die loving you! I wanna grow up and have babies with you, I
want to always wake up every day 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 and 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 and bear 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: 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 conscience and happy 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 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 when 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.
Going to Priya she jumped up in the chair, wrapped her left arm around my neck
as she leaned in for the 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, “Whoa, I’ve already gotta husband! Get to work, Letch.”
With everyone getting a laugh out of 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 wrecking. As a rule, Muslims don’t celebrate
birthdays but we weren’t so fundamental in our beliefs 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 a cake (which Tina enjoyed wearing) and we found another of Priya’s
fetishes: chocolate.
Mom, having a very special relationship
with Priya, gave her a broach that 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 she and
Monaavi would forever be bound by those words.
That night after the party, Leeya and I
made tender love to our new teenage 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 only children. 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 and America, 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!”
“Boy, Sean,” Mom commented as she sat, “she’s
really frightened about her wedding night. You’d better be prepared to take
things slow with her. She’s more scared than Leeya or Priya ever was!”
“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 her 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 being protective of her
femininity from prying eyes. Now, she’ll have to reverse her thinking and bare
herself all in one night. If she can 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 me. She’s got a 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 going to 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, Bud, gotta save the juice for a baby tomorrow night.”
Mom and Dad got a chuckle out of 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 kind of knew what to expect. Priya giggled when she said that
she felt that once I got Monaavi’s 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 your 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 England 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, Priya said she was
taking a shower so that she could get Tina dressed and 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 kameeze. 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 and we
were soon ready to leave.
We arrived at the hall about twelve-thirty
and the ceremony was to begin at one. Mom went inside to check out things 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 and
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 to my spot for the
ceremony, Monaavi and her father entered from a side door. I looked at my bride
and she took my breath away! Monaavi had on a deep red Lengha richly
embroidered and encrusted with silver and green sequins and stones that was
magnificent! She wore a matching half choli and through the deep red dupatta, I
could see her midriff and bare shoulders with matching sequined red slippers.
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 stand of diamonds down the center of her head with a red ruby
dangling in the center of her forehead. On each of her small, shell-like ears
hung a single stringer of diamonds. I think she borrowed Priya’s necklace that
spread across the whole of her exposed upper chest and was 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 but quickly looked away.
The positions were: at my far left stood
Ravi and next to him right stood Monaavi. I stood about two feet to Monaavi’s
right with Priya next to me and Leeya next to Priya. Ravi’s father acted as his
witness and Adib acted as mine and both stood behind each of us.
The Imam raised his hand as if to silently
ask for silence. When the room had come to a hush, the ceremony began.
After
a litany of prayers and readings from the Koran, Imam looked at Adib, 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, Imam asked, “As first wife, do you sanction this union?”
“I have sanctioned it, Imam,” Priya answered as
she nodded.
Turning to Leeya, Imam asked, “Do you as second
wife allow this marriage?”
“Yes, O holy One, I have allowed it,” Leeya
responded.
Imam 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.”
Imam 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,
followed by Monaavi and signed her dower then I signed, the witnesses signed
and I returning it to her folded and in the envelope. I then 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 Imam’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 the ring from Imam 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 me. 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 Imam 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 claps, sheers 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 Imam, 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, “Papa!”
I chuckled and replied, “I will treasure
her always, and as for the grandkids, 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 if 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 she is, I hope she doesn’t take advantage of me.”
Monaavi pinched my arm and ended it all
with, “If you two keep this up, I’ll remain a virgin one night longer!”
“Ooooh, I see thorns,” 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 was 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?”
“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 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 hard. ”
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 way of expressing sexual matters. Priya was right:
she may be an adult, but in a lot of ways, she’s still innocent and child-like.
“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 at me with a
coquettish smile through her lashes. My imagination stirred by her suggestion I
replied, “That might have possibilities; it may 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.”
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 will!” I replied coyly.
Monaavi got serious and said, “It may seem silly
and childish but I’m going to miss my parents: especially Papa. 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 known. 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.”
“Yes,” she replied whimsically, “It would
be a crowning achievement if Tina grew up with her qualities.”
“It certainly would,” I agreed.
I could tell looking out the window that we
weren’t far from the house saying, “Well, we’re almost home, ready to begin
your new life?”
“Once I step over 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 giddier 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. “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. 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 does.
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 see Mom with the
Koran in hand along with Priya and Leeya standing in the doorway wearing
beaming smiles.