I didn’t need to think about it, but I wasn’t sure how Maya felt, however when I turned towards her she smiled and nodded.
“We accept your conditions, providing you accept our conditions. One. You no longer dictate your wishes to Maya especially over the clothes she wears, what she wears is her choice. Two. Maya will receive all of your first wife’s jewelry. It’s no good to you being locked away in a drawer, it will eventually come to me who will only pass it on to my wife. Three. Maya likes to cook, so she will continue cooking for us, but you will employ two cleaning ladies five days a week to clean the house. That is no longer a job for my wife. Finally, we will not perform for you more than once a month and the first time will be at least one week after our wedding. I also dictate the conditions under which you watch.”
I could tell father wasn’t happy with my terms, but he accepted them, begrudgingly. Realizing the significance of father’s acceptance, Maya slipped her arm through mine and laid her head on my shoulder, I turned and kissed her. We both helped to transfer my father’s belonging to the bedroom furthest from ours, during which father presented Maya with the jewelry case. Maya helped me move my stuff into the master suite. After everything that needed to be transferred had been transferred, Maya removed her engagement and wedding ring and placed it in the jewelry box. From the box she selected a large diamond solitaire ring which she passed to me asking that I slip it on her finger. Also from the box she put to one side a wide, highly engraved wedding band for when father conducted the wedding ceremony.
The day of the divorce and wedding ceremony was something special. The ceremony was held in father’s home office, the items on his desk had been cleared and replaced with bouquets of flowers with more scattered around the room. We both stood there waiting for the bride to appear. Everything had been kept a secret from me, I had no idea of the brides arrangements, knew nothing of what she would be wearing. I suspected she would be wearing her original wedding saree but couldn’t be sure. When she appeared at the door I stared at her in amazement, she was wearing a white satin strapless Cinderella ball type wedding gown which rustled as she walked towards me. In her hand was a small bouquet of flowers
Father presided. First he asked Maya if she was sure that she wanted me to be her husband, she said yes. Then he asked me if I was sure that I want Maya to be my wife, I said yes. Then he began the process of divorce.
“Maya Desai I divorce thee; Maya Desai I divorce thee; Maya Desai I divorce thee.”
There was a short break before proceeding into the marriage ceremony.
“Maya do you take Remi to be your wedded husband?”
“I do.”
“Remi do you take Maya to be your wedded wife?”
“I do.”
“I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride.”
A week later was the first opportunity for father to watch us make love. We had introduced a woodened frame easy chair into the bedroom and placed it against the wall facing the foot of the bed. Initially father was uncooperative and wanted to know the reason why, when I suggested tying him to the chair.