Child Brides of India

By C. Stanton Leman

Chapter 92: Miko and Sean Marry (MFFfg, rom, no sex)

Leeya and I awoke at six, her tiny frame still blanketing mine. I just loved holding her tiny butt cheeks in my hands. I tapped said delicious butt cheeks lovingly telling her to wake up. She groaned at having to get up saying, “I’m all tired out from last night. Boy that one-way was great!”

“Speak for yourself,” I remarked smartly. “I could rape you right about now.”

“Oh no you don’t,” she giggled as she shot off the bed on her way to the bathroom, “no preteen pussy for you for a week!”

“Shucks!” I replied jokingly.

We showered without me accosting her and readied for prayers. The others arrived shortly after we got dressed. After prayers and at breakfast, Miko was now very shy and bashful. All the other women and girls were giggly and conversive but Miko was somewhat quiet.

When I inquired about it to Miko, Priya cut in saying, “Gosh! You can be so lame sometimes. It’s finally dawning on her that after today, the next time she sees you, she’ll be making her vows. Men!”

Having been duly put in my place to the amusement of the female gender, I shut my mouth. Dad, being all wise, never uttered a word. I had the thought that my generous IQ of 142 hadn’t really served me well with the women in this family. Hell, even Leeya could out think me and Tina and the twins had me wrapped! I realized a male fact of life: intelligence is no match for a woman’s intuition. They’ll kick you in the ass every time!

The inevitable came with the completion of breakfast and it was now time for me to go. Mom teased, “Aw look at him. He looks like a lost stray puppy whining, ‘Keep me, please keep me.’”

Jun got into it by quipping, “Remember, Sean, good things come to those who wait (giggle).”

(More giggles)

“Alright,” I resigned, “I’ll go upstairs, get my skirt and leave.”

Like the lost puppy I looked like, I trudged upstairs to get my things. Having retrieved everything, I came down and gave my family a kiss goodbye. Mom joked, “Gosh, Sean, we’ll see you for dinner at five; you act like you’re leaving for good!”

“It’s just kinda hard being alone,” I answered truthfully, “at a time like this.”

Miko came up to me and gave me the tenderest of kisses. When we broke the kiss, she then pulled herself into my chest and gently hugged me. Looking up at me she said, “In the credenza under the TV is a photo album. It has photos of me as a child in Osaka. Momma sent it to me a few weeks ago. I hope you like them. I love you, Sean, more than anything else in the world. See you at five, okay?”

Standing on tiptoes, Miko kissed me again only now with more passion. I returned her kiss and her passion for several moments then broke away saying, “I love you too, Miko. Just when I thought I’d found all the love I would ever have, you came along, enriching my life with even more.”

There would be two limos for the women tomorrow so I took the keys to the navigator and slowly drove off. I arrived at Miko’s about eleven-thirty and went inside. Setting my things down in the bedroom, I lay on the bed just to smell her fragrance. Lying on my back, I grabbed her pillow and covered my face taking in her scent.

The scent of her filled me with mixed emotions. I began to weep for her and became hard at the same time. Her fragrance was like her beauty: soft, ethereal, erotically exotic and comforting all at the same time. Having satisfied my need to be melancholy, I rose, sat on the bed and studied the room. Just like the garden I’d seen completed and the way Miko explained how she’ll dress tomorrow, everything in the room seemed to have a place, a position and a reason that lent harmony and meaning to each object and the room itself.

I went to the living room and sat on the sofa, making the same appraisal I’d made in the bedroom with the same conclusion. Every piece of furniture, every piece of pottery or accessory brought a peaceful balance to the room and her home as a whole.

Being American, I have sped through life, having more important things on my mind than my surroundings. To me, furniture was furniture and although many of the things Mom displayed were beautiful, I never really thought about the planning, time and care it took to create such an environment of serenity. Like looking at nature: we see a beautiful vista and gasp for a moment then move on, our senses dulled by over saturation.

I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, located the photo album and sat to see my new bride as a child. I opened the cover to the first photo to see Jun as a young woman holding a tiny little baby. Miko looked a lot like her mother when she was younger.

I saw photos of a chubby little Miko as a toddler, running around in a diaper and her little potbelly, round face and a wide toothy smile. She reminded me of Tina as a baby, chasing her little bare ass around the house to put her back on the pot. I saw a picture of her first attending school in her little blue plaid jumper, white knee socks and pigtails.

I laughed at a photo of her when she was about seven. She wore a wide, happy smile with her two front teeth missing and the evidence down the front of her dress over her enjoyment at having a flavored ice cup. And as she progressed in age from a chubby little girl into a slender beautiful young lady in high school wearing a blue sailor suit uniform. Seeing the stages of Miko’s life in pictures seemed to draw me closer to her as if, in a small way, I was a part of her earlier life.

Realizing it was three O’clock; I’d been daydreaming for hours. Closing the album and putting it neatly away in its place, I took my shower. I put on a suit, grabbed the keys and my cell phone and headed to Pearce’s for dinner.

Arriving at the restaurant a little early, I waited outside for my family to arrive. Upon arrival, the women filed out of the limo one at a time and again, I was amazed at the beauty before me. Miko looked lovely in a summer dress of white. I noticed Tina as she walked towards me in her yellow and blue sundress, her tiny breast buds slightly poked out from her chest and she even wore strapped pump sandals! My, what a lovely young woman she’s become!

We had a relaxing, cheerful and familial jovial meal with good ambience albeit everyone was a little tense in anticipation of tomorrow’s events. After the meal and standing at the car, I kissed my women goodnight. Tina kissed me tenderly saying she was really happy for me and that she was proud to be my daughter.

I kissed Miko passionately and she melted in my arms. After the kiss, we embraced tenderly and she looked up and said, “Tomorrow I’ll be yours, all my dreams will come true and our lives we be sealed forever. I’m so happy right now, Sean and when I see you next, I’ll be making my vows. I love you, Darling, dream sweetly of me tonight and tomorrow, we’ll be together again.”

With that she got in the car, closed the door and started to cry as they pulled off for home. I returned to Miko’s, undressed, put my suit away and climbed into bed. I cried myself to sleep; smelling her fragrance on her pillow, remembering the sweetness of her lips and her soft melting body molded to mine.

I awoke at six as usual and lay there in bed alone for a while. I was giddy with anticipation and was joyful this day had finally come. As I showered, I thought of all our firsts: the first time I saw her, her smiling face as she handed me the scissors to cut Cinny and Liz’s cord. I recalled our first conversation in Priya’s room and our first seduction dance, our first embrace and my, that first kiss!

Isn’t it funny when we reflect on those we love? It’s like small video clips that flash through our minds of tiny moments we view and unconsciously remember that we take for granted. The way her eyes light up when she smiles. I can picture the way she throws her head back with ease as she breaks into laughter and the way she flips her sandal on her tiny foot unconsciously as she converses.

I remember the way she is with my children; bathing Malina with such tenderness and care, the sweetness and love in her voice as she sings my child a lullaby and to see her run, dodge and dart as she laughingly plays tag with the girls. Moments in time: precious, fleeting moments in time like snapshots of our life that pass through time and, oh so quickly vanish.

God has been so gracious to me! As I walk through the rooms of my heart, I find each filled with richly appointed shared memories with those I’ve been given to love and cherish.

I recalled my mother’s words upon the death of Emmy and looking back, she was right. Although at the time, I couldn’t see or believe through all the pain the blessings God had in store for me.

I said my prayers fervently asking for guidance and strength to care for all my wives including my new bride Miko. After prayers, I ate a bowl of cereal and sat on the couch in my boxers, laughed through breakfast watching Tom and Jerry.

Having to be at the Mosque by noon, I lounged around until ten and began to get ready. Being happy and giddy with anticipation, after I’d donned my skirt, shirt and kimono: even the split-toed tabi socks and sandals, I played make believe in front of the mirror pretending to be the great shogun ruling over his fiefdom, ordering my samurai to go find me a beautiful girl to wed this afternoon. Shouting gibberish Japanese orders, rejecting all maidens quickly brought before me before settling on a beautiful young peasant girl named Miko.

Looked at my watch, it’s eleven, play time is over, It’s time to get my shogun butt to the Mosque! I grabbed my things and headed out the door to be married.

I arrived about eleven-forty and everyone was waiting outside. Priya wore a royal blue kimono with white flowers painted all over it. Monaavi had on a purple one with a nature motif. Leeya’s was imperial yellow (of course) with sweeping green leaves and blue lilies. Mom’s was blood red, trimmed in gold and had sprays of mums all over it. Tina and Tiya’s were powder blue with white cranes and flowers throughout. Cradled in poppy’s arms was Malina in her pretty pink kimono-like dress with her tiny chocolate feet encased in tabi socks.

Priya and Monaavi came up to me and I told them how beautiful they looked. Priya said, “Oh, Sean, if you think we look beautiful, you should see Miko: she’ll literally take your breath away!”

“She’s that beautiful?” I asked in wonder.

“And more,” Priya confirmed. “By the way, for the last time, give me your ring.”

I smiled as I slipped the ring from my finger and handed it to her.

Now, I became nervous! All the guests were inside as we waited to be called. We heard the band begin to play, signaling us to enter the hall. When entering the door, Madoka playfully teasing us with her flowered baton. She wore a lavender kimono, trimmed in white with white patterned flowers. Looking over the segregated crowd, I saw Jun sitting in front wearing an ivory white kimono trimmed in gold with pale blue flowers on it.

I was brought to my place before the Imam with our cleric witnesses behind me. One would think that after three weddings I’d be used to this by now, but my mouth was dry and my palms were sweating waiting for Miko to make her entrance. Over the speakers, we heard a soft Japanese tune being played on a shamisan (A three-stringed lute).

Everyone’s eyes were glued to a side door that slowly started to open. Miko stepped out, with Keiko assisting her by holding up the excess length of the uchikake kimono to keep Miko from tripping. She was so breathtaking; I gasped and stepped back slightly.

Miko wore a richly embroidered white brocade shiro-maku kimono trimmed in pink. The koshi-himo and date-jime obis were pink with a wide, white brocaded formal obi and the pink obi-jime obi was tied across the center of the wide formal obi. I could see her purse barely sticking out of the top front of the kimono with her fan and sword tucked in her obi.

Over all of this, she wore her breathtakingly beautiful uchikake kimono, which was open like a cape-like coat. The uchikake was multicolored with a background in shades of greens and gold and red and silver, overlaid with hand painted chrysanthemums, cherry blossoms, flying cranes and phoenixes. The sleeves and bottom were trimmed in deep red.

On her head, Miko wore a white, flat, bowl-like hat that covered her brow and her face as she looked down submissively. From each of her small, shell-like pierced ears, Miko wore a hanging strand of diamonds about an inch long. She walked with tiny shuffle steps as if her feet were bound with a short cord at the ankles. She gracefully pulled her fan, slowly opening and shielding her face as with a veil, only her eyes peeking out over the top.

It took Miko several minutes to walk to her position. Miko never looked at me until she stood two feet away on my left. She glanced over with such a sweet and tender smile I almost melted on the spot! Her eyes sparkled and a single tear spilled from the corner of her eye. Miko then folded her fan and tucked back in her obi.

Being in position, Imam began the ceremony. After a litany of prayers and readings from the Koran, Imam looked at Miko, he said, “Today we will witness a solemn pledge between Sean Michaels and Miko Ozawa. I ask you now in the presence of God and this congregation to declare your intent.”

Miko began, “I, Miko Ozawa, have given myself to Sean Michaels in marriage.”

Imam asked her, “You are of age?”

“Yes I am, Imam,” Miko answered politely, “I’m twenty-six years old.”

“You are no longer a virgin,” Imam asked, “and capable of speaking on your own behalf?”

“I am not a virgin, Imam,” Miko replied, “and I speak on own behalf and of my own volition.”

Turning to Priya he asked, “Priya Michaels, as first wife, do you sanction this union?”

Priya answered, “I have sanctioned and encouraged it, Imam.”

“And do you Leeya Michaels,” Imam asked of Leeya, “As second wife do you sanction this marriage?”

“I have sanctioned it, Imam,” Leeya answered, “and encouraged it also.”

“And you, Monaavi Michaels,” Imam asked, “As third wife do you sanction this union?”

“I too, Imam,” Monaavi answered, “have sanctioned and encouraged it.”

Imam asked Miko, “Do you accept Sean Michaels as your husband with the dower that you have agreed upon?”

Miko replied, “I have accepted and have given myself to him.”

Imam asked me, “Do you, Sean Michaels accept Miko Ozawa as your wife?”

I replied, “I have accepted her as my wife.”

Miko then stepped forward with her cleric witness, and signed her dower agreement, then I signed, and finally my witness signed and I returned it folded and in the envelope to Miko.

Then, I signed the Nikaahnama, then my witness, followed by her witness and finally by Miko.

Imam said some more readings and the blessing of the rings. He nodded to me, and as I held the ring out to place it on her finger, repeated after him:

“Miko, 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.”

As I spoke and placed the ring on her finger, she slowly opened her fan bringing up to cover her mouth.

Tucking her fan back in her obi, Miko had taken my ring from her obi where she’d tucked it, and while placing it on my finger repeated after Imam 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. In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful. With this ring, I thee wed.”

Miko added, “Omuko san, let this ring symbolize the love between five souls and with this ring I seal all of our fates forever.”

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.”

Imam outstretched his arms and proclaimed, “Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder. God bless you and the congregation”

With that, everyone clapped and cheered. All the guests were separately seated for dinner by sexes, and Jun and Madoka immediately fetched us both, taking Miko and I to our table to feast as man and wife for the first time.

The Japanese chef and staff laid out a lavish menu beginning with amuses and Canapés followed by a course of marinated Atlantic salmon and caviar with yellow pepper sauce.

This was followed with a course of shark fin, egg-custard style with avocado coulis and cream of crab and cauliflower soup with freshly baked bread. After that, cod fish with pancetta and clams, Florentine-style, with tomato and estragon sauce.

And if that wasn’t enough, they next served tenderloin of beef with red rice and bamboo shoots and herb mustard sauce. Dessert was baked ice cream served with freshly brewed coffee or tea.

After stuffing ourselves on the lavish meal my Mom had so beautifully and expertly planned, Miko and I were snatched up by Jun, Madoka and my women folk and seated on pillows about three feet apart with the Koran placed between us. Priya told Miko, “Don’t look directly at him,” she then handed her a mirror and said, “Use only the mirror to view him,” then moved away.

Under the direction of Imam, all the women prayed for me and offered their salaams and I returned their salaams.

After the Muslim prayers and salaams, Mom and Jun prayed a Bible reading from the Book of Proverbs:

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good: not harm, all the days of her life. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.

“She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

When the reading was finished, we rose to congratulations by our guests. I looked at my new wedding band and it was stunning! It had a one-caret diamond in the center and two smaller ones flanked each side. Miko told me that the large diamond was me and if I held my hand out looking at it, each wife was represented by a smaller diamond beginning with Priya as the farthest right diamond and reading left, each wife in succession.

While talking about our rings, Tina came up; hugged Miko and said, “I’m the luckiest girl in the world! I now have four mothers! Welcome, Momma.”

Miko touched her cheek, kissed her sweetly and answered, “Thank you my beautiful daughter, I hope I can live up to that honor for you and your sisters.”

Tina leaned up, kissed Miko’s cheek and affirmed, “You already have, Momma.” and walked back to her sisters.

Cinny and Lizzy and Tiya also came up one at a time and embraced their new mother and aunt and expressed their love and returned to the festivities

Miko had removed her white hat and her hair glistened with brilliantly ornate combs. She was simply radiant! Miko clung to my arm as we mingled and talked with our guests. Miko hugged and kissed Keiko and thanked her for all her help and friendship. Miko’s friends, Abby, George and Pita gave Miko envelopes, which she politely tucked inside her kimono saying with a bow, “Domo arigato.”

Priya instructed Jun what to do next. Jun took her daughter’s hand, placed it in mine and said as Miko translated, “My heart is at peace knowing that my baby is loved and safe. Cherish her all the days of her life and give her many children. Now go, go in love and build your life together as a family.”

Miko and I mingled with the guests for another thirty minutes or so as Mom, Jun, Madoka and my wives made their way home, Poppy and Pita being the “designated babysitters” for the girls. I managed to pull the photographer aside and tell him privately I wanted him to follow us home because I wanted photos in our wedding attire at various places in Miko’s garden.

We were followed out to the limo with cheers and good wishes as we prepared to leave and begin our life together. I opened the limo door and helped Miko slide inside. We then pulled away from the curb and left for home.

As we started for home, Miko was quietly looking down at her rings twirling them around her finger. I softly chuckled and she blushed, looked up and asked quizzically, “What?”

“Oh nothing,” I replied with a soft smile, “I was thinking as I watched you twirl your rings that Priya, Leeya and Monaavi did exactly the same thing on our way home from the wedding. Why do you girls twirl your rings?”

She blushes and smiled, quiet for a moment, then looked at me and answered, “Because they represent a new life. An endless circle of love, without beginning or end and sealed with a vow to go on through eternity.”

Miko started to weep and I asked her if she was all right. She looked at me and smiled tenderly and answered, “This is the happiest moment of my life and I can’t believe that God has been so gracious to me. I know that in time God will grow our love but right now, I feel like I couldn’t possibly love you any more than I do at this moment.”

Looking down at her rings again she continued, “When the Imam asked me if I was a virgin, I felt a freedom in admitting my past mistake and having been born again by God’s grace. I made my proclamation to you for all to hear with joy, conviction and confidence.”

“I love you, Miko, more than words could ever express” I professed, “and your love has brought a whole new meaning to my life. I somehow see more beauty in life and am able to understand a little better the quiet order of things: everything in life has a place where it fits in harmony with the world around us. All too often we rush through life, desperately seeking happiness and grab the first thing that comes along: like a piece of a puzzle. We push, we turn the piece in our hands and try to force it into place trying to make it fit. All the while never really learning how it’s meant to be.”

Leaning over and kissing her nose I continued, “Sitting in your apartment yesterday, I realized that when everything is in harmony, there is a peaceful serenity in life and a perfect place where we all belong. When Emmy died, I thought my world had come to an end. Mom consoled me by saying that God would replace her with a blessing far greater than that which I lost and He’s doubled that blessing. He then gave me Monaavi and now, you.”

With tears on my cheeks I looked into her eyes and explained what that meant to me by saying, “Each of my wives has brought a gift into my life. Priya has brought me the awakening gift of first love; a love that has unbelievable strength and a sense of purpose: she’s been my anchor and guiding light in life. Leeya has given me the gift of a pure sweet love that will be forever be child-like and yet enduring all the days of my life. Monaavi brought me the gift of duty to family and a devout devotion to God and you, you, Miko have brought me peace. Peace in my heart, peace in my life and a reassuring serenity that passes all understanding. With you, my blessings are complete. From the bottom of my heart, my beautiful, sweet bride, I see the heart of God in you. I love you, Miko, God how I love you!”

With that, I kissed my new bride with incredible passion as we wept in each other’s arms. Breaking the kiss with a tender embrace, we pulled up to the gate. I asked her, “Ready to begin your new life?”

“With joy and happiness,” Miko tenderly replied.

The limo pulled up the curved drive in front of the house. Standing in the open double doors of the doorway was my mother, holding the Koran and Jun holding the Bible.

I stepped out of the limo and assisted Miko to exit the car and stand. I scooped her up in my arms as she squeaked a little girl’s squeal of joy with a giggle and walked to the door. We entered and Mom and Jun placed the holy books over our head.

First Jun then Mom kissed Miko on the cheek and welcomed her into her new home. Setting her to her feet, Miko’s three sisters hugged and kissed her, welcoming her in turn.

We gathered and sat in the family room as Mom made and served tea. As we talked, Miko withdrew her fan and began fanning herself. Mom asked her if she was all right and Miko chuckled and replied, “It’s summer and I’m wearing three layers of clothing. By tradition, I was supposed to change earlier but Sean asked me to remain in ceremonial wedding dress.”

“Do you always listen to your husband?” Priya asked in a kidding way.

“For now,” Miko relied cutely as she looked at me out of the corner of her eye. “I’ll wait a week to start giving him grief.”

“You’ll fit right in, Sister,” Monaavi observed.

The little snot observed and asked, “How do you go to the bathroom in that thing?”

Miko and her family giggled as she replied, “Very carefully.”

After about a half hour of small talk about the ceremony, Mom commented on the fact that she was surprised by the Imam’s acceptance of the Christian prayer offered by Jun and her.

The photographer showed up and we took a variety of group photos in front of the house along with a few of Miko, her mother and Madoka. Dad and Pita showed up with the kids about ten minutes later, which meant more photos with the children, all in their brightly colored kimonos.

Once back inside, I smiled gently at Miko and said, “Come, Darling, I have a wedding present for you.”

My wives looked at me curiously while Mom, Dad, Jun and Madoka simply smiled. Rising to stand before her, I extended my hand for her to follow.

“Can we come too?” Leeya asked.

“Not just yet, Sweetie,” I replied, “Let Miko see it first”

Miko picked up the excess of material from the floor and followed me out the back door. I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and as we rounded the barn, I blindfolded her. I led her by the arm down the little winding path to the bamboo gate hidden beneath the pines.

Standing before the gate, I removed her blindfold and kissed her saying, “Let this gift, in some small measure, give you a picture of what’s in my heart for you.”

Miko read the inscription on the gate and brushed her fingertips over the wood-burned characters with slow gentle movements then began tracing the Japanese characters with her small slender finger.

“Close your eyes a moment,” I requested and pushed the gate open leading her inside.

“Okay my little lotus blossom, open your eyes,” I requested lovingly.

When Miko opened her eyes, she covered her mouth in stunned surprise and with a huge gasp cried out, “Oh my sweet, sweet Omuko san!”

Her knees buckled and I had to grab her to keep her from collapsing. As her disbelieving eyes scanned the garden, she wept emotionally in disbelief as she recovered her legs. She turned to her right and gazed upon the fountain spilling over into the koi-filled pool. She sat on the stone trimmed granite ledge with her legs gracefully tucked to one side and leaned over dragging her hand slowly through the pool of water.

Silent, Miko looked up at me with a tearful weeping smile that filled my heart with gladness. She rose, turned and walked the path pausing to watch for a moment as the water cascaded over the stones and into the stream.

Turning to her left, she saw the meditation bench nestled in its alcove. She stepped inside the alcove to stop in front of the bench, knelt and began to pray. After a moment of prayer, Miko stood and turned to face me with a tender smile. Her tears still flowed softly down her cheeks as she touched the side of my face with her hand, looking at me with a loving smile.

She shuffled down the path and slowly started to cross the bridge. At the pinnacle of the arch, she stopped and gazed over the pool looking at the gazebo. Miko then turned and looked back at the bubbling fountain spilling over the granite obelisk.

My beautiful, graceful lotus flower finished crossing the bridge and slowly shuffled and stepping into the gazebo sat erect on a bench looking out over the pool with a serene look of contemplation. Silently she brought her hand up to her shoulder, wordlessly bidding me to take her hand. I stepped up behind her, took her hand tenderly and placing my other hand on her shoulder kissed the top of her head.

Sitting erect, graceful and silent, Miko withdrew her fan and slowly opened it and said as if in a faraway place:

“Though I go to you ceaselessly along dream’s path, the sum of these trysts is less than a single glimpse granted to the waking world.”

“That was beautiful, Miko,” I said lovingly.

“It’s a Japanese love poem,” Miko revealed, “by Ono Oh Komachi.”

Turning and looking up at me with tear-filled eyes and a tender smile Miko said, “This gift you’ve given me is the place of my dreams. No one will ever know what this means to me for it is mine to treasure secretly in the intimate place of my heart. Sean, I never could have imagined a vision of love like that which you’ve given me. My heart is overflowing with so much love for you I cannot comprehend it. You truly do understand my Japanese soul and looking around I see the vision of love you share with me.”

Miko gently pulled my entwined hand in hers to her cheek and pressed it to her as we looked out over the pond to see a robin alight from a cherry tree. Miko said prayerfully, “I have trusted in God with all my heart and soul and He has given me the desires of my heart.”

“Proverbs right?” I inquired.

“Yes,” Miko confirmed, “how’d you know?”

I chuckled and answered, “You forget, I was raised a Baptist.”

Just then, we turned to see my family enter our garden of love wide-eyed with wonder. After carefully studying each little detail they met us in the gazebo. Priya, with tears on her cheeks said, “Oh Sean, this is so magnificent! What a beautiful gift! I’m so happy for you, Miko and I know that you’ve now found your home.”

After taking some photos, everyone left us to be alone again.

After a few heartfelt hugs and kisses, Miko asked me, “Sean, may I sit here for a while, alone?”

“Sure, Baby,” I replied lovingly.

Quietly I left Miko to her dreams and returned to the house. About thirty minutes later Miko came through the back door.

It’s strange in an uncanny way that one just knows when someone you love has something so personal that it needn’t be inquired about. This was the case here. Everyone that loved Miko and shared in her joy on her wedding day simply knew that what she felt for her garden was somehow a very intimate and personal thing.

Monaavi asked Miko tentatively, “Miko, can we visit your garden also to meditate and pray?”

“Oh please do!” Miko gleefully pleaded, “My wish would be to experience the words on the gate: for everyone who passes inside. Something of such beauty yearns to be shared. It’s was given to me but in the end, it cannot be mine alone. Let each who pass through the gate find their own special meaning within.”

As a tension-relieving joke to change the subject, Dad asked, “Anyone hungry?”

Having eaten like gluttons at the reception, everyone laughed holding their stomachs. I was now about to receive my little wedding surprise.

Priya turned to me and said coyly, “Sean?”

I just knew something was up by the tone in her voice and answered warily, “Yes my Beloved.”

With a smile that seemed to have a concealed purpose, Priya remarked, “There’s one more thing you need to do isn’t there?”

“And what’s that my dear?” I asked cautiously.

Miko touched my hand and I turned to her. She had a devilish smile on her face and a sparkle in her eye and I had the feeling I was being roped into something.

“Darling?” Miko cutely asked.

“Yes my little lotus blossom,” I playfully replied.

“In a show of cultural unity,” Miko explained, “The girls wore kimonos today.”

“I know, Sweetheart,” I replied warily.

“And in return,” Miko continued coyly, “I have embraced a custom from India.”

Pulling her tiny, slender, tabi-socked foot from her sandal, she smiled and asked, “Please remove my booty please.”

She said that with a twinkle in her eye and an impish grin and I sighed a smile. I obliged her by kneeling at her feet and taking her dainty foot in my hand, brought it to my lips with everyone looking on and planted a kiss on her toes.

Teasing her I remarked, “Phew! These pretty little doggies stink!”

Miko smiled and held her ground as all looked on and she replied calmly, “Priya told me you’d say that. She also told me you were a toe-sucking pussy and for you to clean them for me.”

“Ohhh,” I drew out with an exaggerated nod, “she did, did she?”

“Uh huh,” Miko nodded.

“For you my princess,” I gave homage, “I’ll do anything you require of me.

Taking her right foot in hand I slowly began to reveal what lay ahead. It seems that one of the reasons I was to be away last night was so the girls could have a mini henna party. For when I bared Miko’s foot, it revealed that it had been intricately painted with henna.

All the women giggled in delight and looking up, Miko gave me a cheese-eating smile. Evidently, Priya had been telling tales out of school because Miko said with an impish tone, “Before you can pluck my little lotus blossom, first you need to find our names.”

I gave Priya and accusatory look and she looked back as if to say, “C’est la vie.”

I chuckled at their ingenuity and set to the task. Let me tell you, a foot is harder to inspect than a hand. Even her Achilles tendon and heel were painted. After ten minutes I found her name in between her third and pinky toes in tiny scripted letters.

“Ah ha!” I proclaimed, “I found it! Here’s your name Miko, you’re just four letters away from being pl-ucked (emphasis on “ucked”).

I uncovered my bride’s left foot and began again. This time it was harder. After thirty minutes of frustration, I found my name had been painted so that it began at her heel and spiraled around to the hollow just behind her ankle.

“He, he,” I dastardly chuckled.

I stood in my skirt and kimono, placed my hands on my hips with the authority of a shogun and proclaimed, “The deed is done and I claim my prize. Come, my little cherry blossom, come to my castle and I shall pluck thy peach from its branches and dine on your sweet, ripe fruit!”

“Oh, Shishou san (master)!” Miko pleaded as she fell to her knees bowing deeply and wrapping her arms around my ankles. “I am but a poor innocent peasant girl. I know nothing of such things! Oh please, Shukan san (lord), do not shame and defile me, dishonoring my ancestors with thy need”

“The emperor has given me this land,” I expounded, “and everything in it! My need is my will and my will shall be obeyed. Tonight I shall peel the petals of your fragrant peony and partake of thy delights. I shall scale your twin peaks and gaze upon the valley below and hide myself in the warmth of your grotto.”

“Oh, Shishou san, you shame me with thy words,” Miko pined with passion. “If you find favor with me, treat me with kindness, whispering endearments in my tender ear. Woo me with your charms and claim me tenderly. Shower my petals with kisses like rain in the spring. Coax my desire with butterfly touches. Draw out my passion like the hummingbird drinks its nectar, ne’er a pistil broken. Let me drink from the well of your heart and like the plum tree in due season I will issue forth my fruit, ripe and sweet. Grant me but this and I shall be yours completely.”

“And what if, to soothe my dry, parched palate,” I inquired with compassion, “I should drink quickly as if dying of thirst?”

Really into the part, Miko withdrew her sheathed dagger from her obi and holding it to her stomach as if to commit hari-kiri replied with conviction as she stared into my eyes, “Then, Shishou san, it is better to die with my honor intact than to live a life of shame!”

Moved by her conviction I replied softly, “Put away thy dagger little one for you have found favor in my eyes. Come, come away with me my little water lily, let me soothe thy spirit with the sweet wine of my affections. I will shower you with tenderness as you desire and woo your heart with gentle whispers and soft kisses. Take my hand, my little peasant girl, let us dance in the heavens on the wings of the phoenix to the song of clouds and rain.”

I extended my hand beckoning her and she gracefully rose, head down in submission. Miko stood before me and placing her hands on my shoulders leaned up and kissed me sweetly.

The crowd went wild with cheers, clapping and ovation. Mom yelled out, “Great, beautiful performance! Encore, encore please!”

I turned with a wry smile and answered, “The encore will take place in the bedchamber of the shogun to a closed audience.”

Miko blushed a beautiful pink, gracefully flipped open her fan and covered her face, save her sultry eyes. I leaned down and kissed her tenderly. I took her hand gently and leading her to the spiral staircase asked, “Would you like to dance?”

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Anyone wanting to see Miko’s traditional wedding attire, email me and I’ll send photos.