Child Brides of India

By C. Stanton Leman

Chapter 105

While Jamie and I were in the elevator on our way up to the pediatrics’ ward, I would find out later that at home, another can of worms was about to be opened.

Tina came to Priya in the family room with Tiya and Pita in tow. She asked Priya, “Mama, can we talk in private? There’s something important we need to discuss with you.”

Priya replied, “Sure, Sweetie, let’s go to the study.”

Once in the study, Priya shut the door and motioned for the three to sit on the sofa while she took a seat in the armchair facing them. When everyone was seated, Priya said, “Okay, Tina, what’s on your mind?”

“Well,” Tina began as she looked at Tiya and Pita, “there’s something we’d like to discuss and we thought it best to talk to you before we discussed it with anyone else.”

“Okay,” Priya said, sort of drawing out the word as if waiting for her to continue, “What’s so important that you needed my advice and no one else’s?”

“Well…” Tina said, the letting the silence hang in the air. She again looked at Tiya, who was fidgeting and Pita was looking at her hands in her lap as she wrung them nervously. “I don’t know how to begin.”

“I would guess,” Priya replied with a smile, “the best place to start is at the beginning.”

Tina looked back and forth between Tiya and Priya and when Tina didn’t speak, Tiya took a deep breath and said, “Priya, I’m in love with Sean and want to marry him.”

Gasp!! Priya looked shocked and sat back and said, “Oh yeah? How long have you felt this way, Tiya?”

“You mean when did I know for certain?”

Priya nodded replying, “Alright, when did you know for certain?”

“For absolute certainty, about three months ago, but it started a long time ago.”

“How long ago?”

“The night Sean proposed to Monaavi.”

“What?” Priya asked, shocked. “You were what, six?

“Almost. It was a few months before my birthday.”

Tiya sighed and clutched her knees as she leaned forward and said, “Priya, I think Leeya knows. She’s the one who talked to me and shared her married life with me after that night. She was hoping that Sean and I could marry, but he married Miko instead and I’ve been heartbroken ever since.”

Priya seemed angry and as she rose from the chair said, “That little snot!”

She went to the family room and told Leeya to come into the study. When everyone was behind closed doors, Priya, with her hands on her hips asked Leeya, “You’ve got some explaining to do, young lady! How come, after seven years, I’m just finding out about Tiya’s feelings for Sean? She said you not only knew about it, but were instrumental in fostering those feelings. Now Talk!”

Leeya glanced at Tiya with a guilty look and replied, “Well, I sort of knew. No, I knew…”

Leeya looked down and started to cry and said, “Things were wonderful and I thought everything would work out and Tiya could possibly marry Sean, but you had to go and introduce Miko to Sean and then, all of a sudden, they’re getting married.”

“Why didn’t either you, Tiya, come to me and tell me how you felt? Or you, Number Two Wife, how could you play with her feelings like this and not tell me?”

“Because,” Leeya explained, “I thought she was over it now. When Sean married Miko, Tiya was sad at first, but seemed to accept it. We’ve never spoken about it since we were about nine.”

“Tiya,” Priya asked, “is this true?”

“Yes,” she replied nodding, “I knew my chance was lost and resigned myself to try and find someone else when I got older, but I just can’t do it. I just can’t! I’ve tried to forget and tell myself that there’s someone else for me, but my heart feels totally broken. I can’t hide it anymore.

“When Sean joked with me that day of Miko and Monaavi’s sonogram, it just brought everything to the surface. What am I gonna do, Priya? I never brought it up to Leeya again because I knew there was nothing she could do. She got pregnant and I knew she was concentrating on that and I didn’t want to mess things up for anyone.

“Oh Priya, my heart feels like it’s been broken into little pieces and I don’t know how to fix it.”

Priya looked at Pita and asked, “When did you find out about all of this?”

“Yesterday,” she answered. “That’s when I went to Tina and she said we had to come to you with it. If anyone could fix this, it would be you.”

Priya sat silent, analyzing everything that had been said chewing the inside of her lip. She turned to Tiya and asked, “You said this whole thing started seven years ago. Tell me what happened to start this whole thing off.”

“Well, Tiya started, “That Thanksgiving night, when Sean was going to propose to Monaavi, Leeya and I were horsing around in the tub. I cut my thigh, and Sean came in and pulled me from the tub. He saw me completely naked, he even saw my coochie. He covered me up and put a band-aid on the cut on my thigh.

“After that, Leeya and I started talking about her married life and how Sean was so gentle and loving. She told me everything they did together and I wanted someone like that for my husband. I was happy that Sean had seen me naked and a few times, tried to let him see me again, but it never happened. I silently watched Sean and the way he and she acted together and my feelings grew. At the time, I couldn’t talk, except for a few words and it wasn’t until a few years later that I told her how I felt. She was surprised, but told me that if she could marry Sean at five, maybe I could marry him at eight or nine.

“I held onto that dream until he married Miko. In all fairness to Leeya, we never really spoke too much about it and I don’t think she really knew how I felt. I’m like Mama in that I keep things inside and don’t talk about my feelings. The only thing she said to me was when Sean proposed to Miko and she told me that deep down, she always wanted me to be one of her sister wives, but now, that could never be. We never spoke of it again.”

“Leeya,” Priya said as she stared into her cousin’s eyes, “Is this true? You really didn’t know for certain, because if you did, you’ve committed a terrible sin against Tiya?”

“Honest, Priya,” Leeya replied, “I knew how she felt about two or three years ago, but I honestly thought she was over it. That’s why I never said anything.”

Turning to Tiya, Priya asked, “So, Tiya, what is it you expect me to do? I mean, Sean has four wives: that’s all he can have. How you expect him to return your love now?”

Tiya set her back straight and looking Priya in the eye said, “I may be autistic, but I’m not stupid.”

Priya snickered and replied, “I know you’re not stupid, Tiya. In fact, you’re a highly intelligent young woman. But, you still haven’t answered my question. What do you think we should do?”

“Well, Muhammad had at least nine wives and an untold number of concubines despite the rule of only having four wives. He was a real horn dog and even had sex with many of the captured women from battle the day he killed their husbands. King David had nine and an untold number of concubines. He even had a man killed so he could steal his wife. King Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines.

“Legally, you are Sean’s only wife: both in India and here in America. Leeya, Monaavi and Miko are wives in name only according to a religious ceremony. There are no legal grounds for him having four wives, much less five. Why can’t I be a wife also — in name: Just like Leeya, Monaavi or Miko?”

“But according to the Koran,” Priya rebutted, “Sean can’t legally have any more.”

“I don’t mean to be disrespectful, Priya,” Tiya retorted, “but legally, Sean could be charged with enough crimes to spend ten life sentences in jail. I’ve done some research and he could be charged with bigamy, child sexual abuse charges from fourth to first degree, delinquency of a minor, the list goes on and on.”

Priya got her back up and asked sharply, “So, is it your intention to blackmail your way into a marriage with Sean?”

“No! I’d never do that,” Tiya replied with tears streaming down her cheeks. “I just wanted to prove that he’s already breaking the law and that if he could love me and hopefully marry me, it wouldn’t make any difference, least of all to me, if we never had a marriage license. I just want to live my life as his wife and have his children. I would love him as much as you or Leeya, Monaavi or Miko would.”

Priya shook her said and chuckled saying, “You’ve really thought this out, haven’t you? There’s only one thing you forgot to take into account.”

“Sean?” Tiya asked. “Could he love me like a wife? I don’t know. I’m just an average girl. I’m not pretty like you four are and I don’t have any tits. Mama doesn’t either, so I probably will never have any. He may just think I’m not good enough.”

“Tiya,” Priya said in a comforting tone, “how Sean feels about you has nothing at all to do with your bra size. I’ve got the ugliest, tubular tits in the world and he still loves me. How would you propose to broach the subject with him? You know for a fact, he’ll reject it without a second thought, don’t you?”

Tiya smiled and replied, “That’s where you come in. He will listen to you and at least consider it. If I, or anyone, else brought it up, he’d get angry and probably send me and Mama away.”

“Well, Priya agreed, “he’d be pissed, but he certainly wouldn’t send you away. What about you, Tina, do you still harbor lustful feelings toward your father?”

“No, Mama,” Tina said with a smile. “I was just fantasizing about being his wife when he told me and got carried away. I’m starting to get noticed by a few boys and I like it. I know now I never really loved Daddy that way. He’s my father and I love him with all my heart, but as my dad: not as a lover.”

Priya silently nodded and said to Tiya, “Well, let me think about it. Bring me all your research. If I’m going to make a case for you, and mind you, I haven’t decided one way or the other, I will need to make my case based on fact. Personally, I think you’d make a good wife and I could love you like a sister wife, but I’m not Sean.

“At some point, we’ll have to sit down and talk to Monaavi, Miko, Mom and Dad about this. I have to tell you, Tiya, Mom and Dad are going to absolutely go ape-shit over this. If we do decide to go ahead and present your feelings and desires to Sean, we’ll need everyone else’s approval also. I hope you understand this.”

“I know, Tiya answered with a nod, “I can only hope and pray that Allah answers my prayers.”

“It’s not Allah you should worry about; it’s convincing Sean.”

“How do you feel about this, Pita?”

“If my daughter married Sean, I would be the happiest woman alive.”

Priya turned again to Tiya and said, “You know Sean is going to recommend you go to public school, just like Tina, hoping for the same result, don’t you?”

“He won’t do that,” Leeya answered. “At least not until she starts high school and goes to the School for the Performing Arts.”

“You may be right,” Priya agreed. “Well, bring me all your research and make your case with me. If I think there’s a chance, we’ll see how it goes; but I’m not promising anything — just yet.”

Tiya went to Priya and hugged her warmly saying, “Oh thank you, Priya! If anyone can do it, you can!”

“Well,” Priya replied with a smile, “don’t get your hopes up.”

___________________________________________

After checking in at the nurses’ station, Jamie and I went to Hibbah’s room. Aziza stood and was surprised to see a young woman with me. Hibbah was watching TV and she perked up when I entered. I introduced Jamie to Aziza and Basheera and then we made our way to Hibbah’s bedside. I introduced Jamie to her new charge saying, “And this pretty little princess is Hibbah. You’ll be her interpreter and chauffeur for the next year.”

They smiled, shook hands and started to converse in Arabic. I turned back to Aziza and Basheera and said, “Well, Basheera, it looks like when you leave tonight, your job will be finished. It has been a pleasure meeting and working with you”

I gave her five hundred dollars and she looked at me in shock. I smiled and said, “Your severance pay. All my employees get it.”

She shook her head and replied, “Oh, no sir, I couldn’t take that.”

“Well,” I replied, “if you don’t take it, I’ll just have to give you a bad recommendation,” and I smiled.

She smiled back thanking me and she put the money in her purse. I told Aziza that when we left, we’d be checking her out of the motel and she was going to move in with us. She started crying and offered her thanks and praise to Allah.

I went to Hibbah’s bedside and sat down. She scooted onto my lap and hugged me tightly with her good arm. She looked at me and gasped. She asked, “Did I do that when I hit you?”

“Yeah, you little stinker,” I teased, “Want another go?” and I stuck out my chin. She tucked her head under my armpit and sniffled, “I’m sorry, Sean. I was angry and didn’t mean it.”

“I know, Sweetie. It’s okay, I’ll live. Everyone will think I was getting fresh with some gorgeous honey.”

Jamie giggled her translation and then Hibbah slapped my arm. She looked up at me and asked, “Sean, tell me the truth. You promised to always tell me the truth, right?”

“Yes, Princess, even when it’s bad news, I’ll always tell you the truth.”

“Do you really think I’m pretty?”

I smiled and gave her a tender squeeze and answered, “Hibbah, I think you’re lovely. Your eyes are beautiful and they really touch my heart. To me, you’re one of the prettiest girls I know.”

She started crying and said, “Sean, I’m so sorry for hitting you. I love you and don’t want you to leave me.”

“I’m never going to leave you, Hibbah. I’ll be here for you as long as you need me. That’s a promise.”

To cheer her up, I said, “Guess what? Your mama is going to come live with me starting tonight. Tomorrow, Jamie here will bring her to see you and act as your translator. Is that okay with you?”

“Uh huh,” she replied. “I think that will be wonderful! When will I be able to come live with you?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I replied, “maybe in a week or so. They want to make sure your stump is healing properly. Your arm will be in a cast for another five weeks or so then it will come off.”

About then, a nurse came in and was going to give Hibbah her shot and check her dressing for the evening. We hugged and she kissed me goodnight saying, “Goodnight, King.”

I chuckled and answered, “Goodnight, Princess. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

She nodded and scooted back onto the bed. We said our good nights as the nurse started to unwrap Hibbah’s leg bandage. We drove to the motel and Jamie helped Aziza pack while I went to the office and paid the bill. They were just finishing up when I got back to the room.

I loaded hers and Hibbah’s suitcases in the car and we were soon off for home. Aziza couldn’t wait to meet my family and she was especially interested in meeting Leeya. Thirty minutes later, we were pulling up to the house.