After forty days in this desert of a country without seeing a single woman, let alone physical contact, Carl hungered for the sight of a woman.
Any woman would do. The closest thing that one got to that in this country were the blue ghosts that walked the streets in little herds. They were completely covered in the traditional blue Afghan burqa or chador. Each of them looked exactly alike, no identify, no personality. He often wondered how they could tell each other apart. Did an Afghan child ever go home with the wrong mother? Did an Afghan man ever go home with the wrong wife?
Carl had come to Afghanistan to join his wife, Lauren. She was offered a job working as a women's rights advocate for the US agency for international development. It had been a dream of hers since their first trip abroad and he had encouraged her to take the position.
Lauren's position was not an accompanied post. Because of security concerns, family was not allowed to come. But, there was no way Carl was going to let his wife go to Afghanistan alone, even if she was with the US government. So, he found a position with a small development organization that worked with the Afghan ministry of education. That way they could be together.
Lauren's supervisors hadn't been amused when the heard that Carl had gone around their restrictions and had gotten a position with a different organization in the same town where she worked.
They refused to let him stay with Lauren at the agency guest house and they also required Lauren to check in each night at the official compound. Apparently, there could be no exceptions made to the security protocols. Or at least they didn't want to make any exceptions.
So for the last six months that had been trying to make it work with day time visits. It reminded him of the worst parts of high school. He could go to her place. She could go to his. But they had a ten o'clock curfew. Once they had still been in bed five minutes before ten, when a sharp rapping on the door startled them. The night security had come, Charles the mission leader had told them explicitly to make sure that no guests were on the compound after ten o'clock. Since there were no guests besides Carl it was clear who was meant. Since then, if possible Lauren came to his place. But then she had to be back by ten, which meant that she had to leave even earlier.
The last several weeks though even that hadn't been possible. Lauren has been in Kabul, twelve hours away, and she's been traveling around the country visiting various women's projects.
So for the last forty days Carl had been separated from his wife. This wasn't the first time that they have been apart. But it was the first time that he had been so completely excluded from female company. He hadn't been aware how much I would miss those casual interactions that we take for granted on a daily basis.
Lauren had called a few hours ago to let him know that she was back from her trip. They made a date for Carl to come over to her place for dinner. And so now he was standing in front of the entrance to her compound with dinner in a sack, a red rose from his garden, and a bottle of contraband wine wrapped inside an Afghan blanket.
Lauren's compound and the guesthouse where Carl stayed were worlds apart. Hers was a concrete fortress with razor wire around the walls and armed guards at the gate. Carl's was a traditional Afghan home with a green garden, thick mud walls and an elderly chawkidar who answered the door if anyone knocked or would go to fetch fresh bread in the morning.
Lauren lived in a two story house together with several other expats. Carl knew the way to her room and knocked quietly as he opened the door. Lauren was sprawled across her double bed with box springs, another notable difference between Carl's accommodations and hers.
She didn't wake as he entered the room. Her headscarf -even the foreigners have to wear one, slacks and bra were lying on one of the two chairs in the room. Carl moved these and quietly set up the dinner table trying not to disturb her.
He had prepared a special meal for her, with ingredients he had saved for a special occasion. If this wasn't a special occasion though, he didn't know what was. It was their first evening together in more than a month.
When everything was set and the wine poured he walked over to wake her.
It was too hot for her to be using a blanket and her long smooth legs were uncovered. She was wearing full body white cotton panties that clung tightly to her rounded ass. After 17 years of marriage, he could still get a hard on from just looking at his wife. At 42 she was still a beautiful woman.
He gently shook her by the shoulder. Nothing. He shook again, and quietly said her name, "Lauren."
She breathed out loudly but otherwise didn't stir.
He looked at the food ready on the table and then at his unconscious wife. Gently, he eased himself onto her bed and slid in behind her.
She didn't wake up as he softly stroked her cheek and brushed her hair off of her face. Softly, he kissed her cheek. As he did so she breathed in deeply and opened one eye looking up at me.
"I'm sorry. Did I fall asleep?" Lauren asked the sleep still clinging to her voice.
"You did." he smiled and kissed her cheek again.
By pressing gently on her shoulder he was able to get her to shift her position so that she was lying on her belly and straddling her hips he started to rub her shoulders and back.
"Oh, thank you. That's just what I need after the long trip."
Carl massaged her back through her shirt for a minute before rolling it up and from the bottom and pulling it off. She was now only wearing her cotton panties and Carl was very hard, his erection uncomfortably pushing against his jeans.
He continued to rub her back and allowed my hands to trace down her sides and cup her breasts. It had been so long since he had been with her; he didn't mind that the food was getting cold. He relished her warmth under his finger tips and allowed himself to linger on the soft flesh of her breasts before continuing to trace down the sides of her body.
As he reached the hem of her panties, she lifted her hips slightly and without a word he slid her panties down around her thighs. Then, gliding his hand along her inner thigh, he gently pressed her fingers against her womanhood. Softly stroking her he elicited her natural moisture to gather on her lips. Then pushing harder he spread her lips apart and slid his finger into her. It had been too long.
He loosened his pants, and pressed his hard erection against her thigh, guiding it into position between her legs. He lay on top of her with and leaning into her he pressed his way inside.
Lauren, moved her hips over so slightly to accept him into her and she felt her body stretch and accommodate the new guest inside of her. She felt her body reacting to his presence. It had been too long for her too.
Reaching around her waist Carl's hand followed the crease where her legs met her body. Pushing through the course hair, it rested right beside her erect clit.
After so long together, he knew how to make her come. Without speaking he rubbed around her clit in small concentric circles, sometimes brushing up against the tip of her tiny erection, sometimes squeezing and holding it. At the same time he pulled her into himself and sank his cock deeper and deeper into her. After a short time, the walls of her vagina began to contract as she came and he let himself fill her with his seed.
It wasn't the wild night Carl had been dreaming about on the lonely nights. It was better. It was the secure intimate love making of two people who implicitly trust each other. Two people who know each other and have committed to each other.
They lay that way with Carl inside of her for several minutes before they both fell asleep. The food was still sitting on the table but Carl didn't mind. He wasn't hungry anyway.
------------------------
Carl woke to Lauren shaking him roughly. There were birds outside the window and the first light of the morning was already shining in.
"Quick, you have to go! It's morning!" Lauren whispered frantically.
"What's the big deal?"
"You're not allowed to stay overnight you know that. If Charles sees you, one of the guards could lose their job."
Charles was Lauren's supervisor and the one who had said that Carl couldn't stay at the government compound. He was a real prick. A stickler for protocol, Carl didn't know if he was just a control freak or if he had a thing for Lauren, or both. He had seen him checking out her ass on more than one occasion.
Personally, Carl didn't care if Charles saw him or not. It's unlikely that anything would happen to Lauren, beyond perhaps a reprimand. But she was right the Afghan guards would probably carry the brunt of his displeasure. And why should they be punished just because he fell asleep.
Quietly, he looked into the hallway. All clear. He headed down the steps but heard someone coming up at the same time he looked around but there was nowhere to go. An Afghan man with a long beard came up the steps carrying some hot Afghan naan bread wrapped in a cloth. He looked at Carl and seemed to smile to himself but went on walking without a word.
Carl hated sneaking around like this. It made him feel like he was still in high school and trying to sneak out of his girlfriend's house without being noticed. Except it wasn't his girlfriend he had slept with. It was his wife! Why should he have to sneak around?
He managed to get out of the compound without anyone else noticing him, aside from the morning guard who was as eager as he was to get him out quickly without a disturbance.
This whole thing was so ridiculous. Why couldn't he just stay there? It's not like he was a security threat. If he had wanted to blow something up he could easily do it during one of his many day visits. And it's not like his presence would add more costs to the program. He would even be willing to pay rent if that was the issue. No, Carl decided, it was Charles. Charles just liked the fact that he could control them.
Out on the street, Carl called his driver to come and pick him up. It took a few rings but eventually Rahmat, his driver and translator, picked up the phone.
In Afghanistan everyone had a driver. It wasn't that Carl didn't know how to drive, or that it was illegal for foreigners to drive, it just wasn't done. Carl saw it as an opportunity to be humble and to allow his hosts to offer him a service. It was also a huge boost to the local economy. Every foreign in their white truck with a driver on the payroll would probably be one of the biggest employment projects in the country.
Rahmat was a young Tajik man, who had learned English from watching movies. He talked fast and drove faster. Carl thought it was more likely that they would die in a car accident than by a terrorist attack, but so far they had been fortunate and had avoided both.
A lot of the foreigners come to be good friends with their translators. In many ways the translator is the guide to a whole new world. You experience your surroundings through their explanations and others hear your ideas through their voice. But Carl didn't think that he would ever be very close to Rahmat. He was rude and immature and his only interests were money and women and not only in that order.
Lauren on the other hand adored her translator, Mina. She had a female translator which was unusual but important since Lauren worked so much with vulnerable women. Lauren visited her house regularly and was learning Dari from her. She had gotten really attached to her and felt that she was almost like the daughter that she had never had. A few months ago, she had even helped her family with several hundred dollars when her Mina's father had expectantly died suddenly.
Rahmat screeched the white SUV to a stop less than a meter from where Carl was standing. Dust clouded up all around them. Carl had hardly climbed into the vehicle before Rahmat was off again.
Carl worked as an adviser for a local teacher training college and taught some classes on biology and English. It was thankless work. He was forbidden to teach about half the biology textbook. Anything with evolution or sexuality was off limits. And regardless of how well they did on the exams he was expected to pass all of them. Three of his biology students were amazing and it was a joy to teach them but the rest were just passing the time. It made him sometimes wonder what he was doing here working for practically nothing.
After his last class had finished he got a call from Lauren.
"Hi, how are you?"
"Mina is getting married!" Lauren blurted out on the phone as her greeting.
"Oh, wow. Give her my congratulations."
"No. We've got to do something." Lauren emotionally replied.
"What do you mean do something? Normally when someone gets married, you get them a toaster, go to party and drink more than you ought to. What else do you want to do?"
"You, just don't get it at all." Lauren complained.
"Well then explain it to me." Carl said, getting frustrated.
"Mina is getting married to someone she doesn't even know. She is being SOLD! Just like all these other women I see all the time."
"Hold on. What do you mean she is getting sold?"
"Just that. She is getting sold. Her brother is marrying her off to some man twice her age, who she never even met, so that she can be his private cook, cleaner and sex slave. The brother is getting $8000!"
"That's terrible. Are you sure it's that bad?" Carl tried to comfort her.
"Yes, I hear the stories all the time. Mina does too, and she's terrified."
"That's horrible. I'm so sorry. But what can we do? That's Afghanistan."
"I refuse to accept that. If I just accept this, if I can't even help Mina, my friend, what am I even doing here?"
"Honey, I'm so sorry. But there's not much that we can do about it though, is there?"
"I can't do anything. But you can."
"Huh? What can I do?"
"You could marry her first!"
couple sex story - An Afghan Bride
Re: couple sex story - An Afghan Bride
"What do you mean, I could marry her?!"
Carl couldn't believe that his American wife was really suggesting that he marry her Afghan friend. Could she possibly be serious? Did she really want him to marry another woman? He loved his wife, and he had been willing to travel to Afghanistan for her but this...
"That is the only way to save her." Lauren replied adamantly. "I have thought it through. If we were to just give her brother the money, there is nothing to keep him from marrying her off later. If she refuses to get married, she can't stay in Afghanistan. If she doesn't get married it will be a shame on her brother and he will have to punish her and she can't leave the country because she would need a passport and a visa and a place to go. The only solution is for someone else to marry her and the only man I trust is you!"
"But Lauren I can't marry her. I already have a wife. You!"
"Carl we are in Afghanistan. That's not a problem. As long as your current wife agrees, and I do, you are allowed to marry up to four women at a time."
"Yeah, but I'm not Afghan. I'm American. The American government doesn't recognize polygamous marriages."
"No, but they don't have to. What's important is that the Afghan government recognizes it, so she wouldn't be in danger of being married off to some guy twice her age whom she's never even seen."
"Honey, I hate to break it to you but I am a man twice her age, whom she's never even seen."
"She's seen you."
"Really? I don't remember meeting her."
"Sure several times. Of course you couldn't see her. She was wearing her burqa. But she told me that she has seen you. And anyways I have told her all about you."
"So you mean you've talked with her about this already?" Carl was still surprised that his wife would suggest such a thing.
"Of course I've talked with her already. I don't go around suggesting that my husband marry someone who isn't even interested!" Lauren laughed.
Carl was shocked how casual she was about this whole thing. How could she laugh about such an idea? Lauren was always trying to save someone, but she was also really traditional, especially in respect to marriage. It was really out of character for her to be so relaxed about the idea of him being with another woman. She usually gets jealous if he just mentions another woman.
"So you are saying, that you me, your husband, to marry this twenty year old girl. And that she wants to marry me too?" It sounded even more unreal as he said it out loud.
"Well actually, she's 19." Lauren answered under her breath. "But it's not like it's going to be a real marriage. It's just a formality so that she doesn't have to marry someone terrible. But yeah, basically that's what I'm saying."
A few hours later Carl, Lauren, and Rahmat were sitting in the living room of Mina's family home. They sat on the traditional long cushions that were positioned around walls of the room in every Afghan home. A thermos with black tea and some almonds in the shell were sitting in front of them. Their home was nice and clean but not especially wealthy.
Mina's father had worked for an international organization and had been able to provide for his family. Now that he was gone though there wasn't much income. Mina's older brother worked as a teacher. As Carl well knew, the pay from the schools was so bad that you could hardly live from it, let alone save enough to afford to get married. Mina's brother's only hope for getting married was to manage to sell Mina off to a family willing to pay top dollar.
An educated girl like Mina usually could bring a high bride price, sometimes as much $20,000. In this case they already knew that there was an offer from another family for $8000. They would have to try to beat that price and negotiate a marriage contract. If there was going to be a wedding.
After about twenty minutes Mina's brother Najib finally came in and sat down.
"Welcome to our home." He said in Dari and smiled at his guests.
This was one of the few phrases that Carl understood. But Rahmat translated for him anyway.
Carl was surprised at how young he was. He couldn't have been much more than twenty-one himself. He couldn't believe that this kid was arranging to marry his sister off for money and that it was perfectly legal.
"When will Mina be joining us?" Carl asked.
Najib and Rahmat laughed with each other and spoke together in Dari. Sometimes looking over at the two Americans. Rahmat did not bother to translate for them.
"Of course Mina will not be joining us tonight." Rahmat finally said to the two English speakers. "It would be immoral for a woman to be present in the company of men."
"But Lauren is here." Carl objected.
"That is different."
"So you mean that Mina will have no say in the agreement at all?"
"Not at all. She will agree with whatever her brother decides." Rahmat explained.
This logic wasn't at all satisfying for either of the Americans, but they had gotten used to this kind of arrangement in Afghanistan.
"So of course you must first become a Muslim." Najib smiled at Carl.
"What?!"
"Don't worry you will not have to grow a beard or anything. You will simply have to go to the mullah and declare your faith in Allah, the Prophet, the Holy Qur'an and the angels."
Carl was not a particularly religious man. He could perhaps be called a Christian. At least he had been to church a few times as a child. But he didn't really believe anything in particular. But even though he didn't have any religious convictions, it was a bit much to say that he would have to change his religion.
Carl turned to Lauren, "Did you know about this?"
"Sure it's normal. It's just a formality." Lauren replied reassuringly. "Christian women are allowed to marry Muslim men, but a Muslim woman is only allowed to marry a Muslim. But like he says it's not complicated to become Muslim."
"It's not a question about being complicated or not." Carl was indignant. "I don't even know if I believe in God, let alone Allah."
"I'm sure you will find the faith." Mina's brother smiled. "That is if you want to marry Mina."
Lauren looked over at Carl, her eyes communicating that he better get religion and get it quick. Carl was not convinced but he remained silent and the negotiations continued.
Most of the time Rahmat handled the details without translating back for the two foreigners. At one point though, they started to argue with each other. Carl interrupted and asked Rahmat what the problem was.
"Because you don't have children, he wants you to agree that if Mina does not have a child within the first year of marriage, you will be held responsible for the lack of a child. I told him this is unacceptable."
"It's no problem I agree." Carl answered.
"But Mr. Carl..."
Carl cut off Rahmat mid-sentence. "It's no problem. I agree. If there is no child it is my fault."
Who cares whose fault it is anyway? When he and Lauren were newly married they had hoped to have children but it hadn't been possible. Lauren had always blamed herself because she had cysts. If only he could have told her then that it wasn't her fault. She might not have blamed herself so much. No, if someone was going to be assigned blame he could take it. His shoulders were wide enough.
The contract was very thorough. It dealt with where they would live - in his guesthouse, there was an extra room adjacent to his own where she could stay; how often she could visit her family home -as often as she likes; whether the bride is a virgin - the brother swears it is so, but it's unclear how he would know; if she would be allowed to work -she would. Finally, they came to the main topic: the bride price.
"I think a girl like Mina. She is very special don't you agree?" Mina's brother smiled at them both. "I would not be willing to let her go with you for less than $30,000."
Their jaws dropped. They had been expecting an increase over the previous offer but this was more than three times what the other family had agreed to.
"No, we couldn't possibly." Carl objected. "I'm a teacher. Like you. I don't have that kind of money."
"No, not like me. You are American. Americans are rich." Najib smiled at him again.
Carl would have liked to leave the negotiations right then. But one look at Lauren and he knew that he couldn't leave. She had made up her mind and when she's decided something, there is no changing it.
The money wasn't really an issue. They were not rich, but Lauren's position paid well, almost a thousand dollars a day. Even at thirty thousand it was only a little more than one months work.
Finally they agreed to $12,000. But only after agreeing that the bride's family would not have to provide any of the usual furnishings for the new couple, and the groom would pay for a wedding that would cost no more than $4000.
In keeping with Afghan tradition the wedding would be in three days. Until then, there was to be no contact between Carl and Mina.
It seemed crazy to plan such a big party so quickly but all the details had already been arranged. The dresses had already been made, the caterer found. The last and seemingly most inconsequential detail was the groom. And now that he had been found the wedding could continue.
The festivities began already the next evening. Mina and Lauren went to the Khina party, where Mina intricate henna patterns were drawn on Mina's arms. Lauren enjoyed herself. They danced and laughed the whole evening. It seemed like a dream. Mina was free. She would never have to worry about being married off to some wife beating old man again.
Carl's evening was less enjoyable. He had an appointment with the local mullah. An old man showed up with the sourest expression on his face at dinner time. Carl invited him in but he only grunted an acknowledgment.
Carl, Rahmat, the chawkidar and the mullah ate a traditional meal of Afghan rice without talking. Finally, after finishing a serving big enough for two people the mullah started to speak.
He explained the tenets of Islam angrily like he had better things to do. He didn't pause for Rahmat to translate and even Rahmat struggled to keep up with the soliloquy. Finally after forty minutes, he told the chawkidar to fetch some water. And then rolling up his sleeves he demonstrated how to do the Islamic purification ritual. After that he told Carl to repeat the Shahahdah, the Islamic creed, in Arabic. The mullah seemed frustrated with Carl's pronunciation, but it must have been acceptable. Afterward, much to Carl's surprise, the mullah embraced him and gave him a big bear hug.
"Shoma digar kafir nesti, musulman shudi!" (You are no longer an infidel, you are now a Muslim!)
For a brief moment Carl felt the warmth of being part of something bigger than himself. He still wasn't sure he believed any of it, and there were many things he was critical of but it was someone nice to be part of a worldwide community.
The feeling didn't last though. A moment later, the mullah took out a ceremonial knife and told him to drop his pants. Carl was confused and uncomfortable. After some confused discussion involving gestures, he understood that they wanted to circumcise him.
Luckily Carl was already circumcised as child, but the mullah still required him to drop his shorts to prove it. Rahmat and the chawkidar were still there. The chawkidar discreetly stepped out but Rahmat stayed unabashedly.
Carl was not especially shy. But he hadn't been prepared for this at all.
Not seeing any other option, he reluctantly undid his pants and lowered his boxer shorts. His flaccid penis hung heavily between his legs. All could see that he was indeed circumcised.
It seemed to Carl that the mullah was disappointed that he had told the truth.
The mullah said something to Rahmat in Dari and walked away in a huff.
"He says, you have to shave yourself. You're no longer an animal you are a Muslim."
"What do you mean shave?" Carl asked, pulling his pants up again. "I thought muslims weren't supposed to shave."
"Down there. You have to shave yourself."
Carl was a pretty traditional guy and "manscaping" was a term from a different generation. He had never taken a razor to that part of his body and was uncomfortable thinking about it.
At least they let him do that in private. He shaved himself as best he could. He couldn't help but think what Lauren would think when she saw him next.
For the next several hours until he went to bed Carl practiced the Islamic prayers. As a Muslim he would be expected to say them five times a day and it was a part of the wedding ceremony. This whole thing was getting pretty complicated after all.
The day of the wedding everyone was stressed just like at any wedding in any country. They had to get dressed. The cook came late. The music wouldn't work. More guests came than were invited. Most of the time though Carl, Mina and Lauren seemed to be in the background.
Everyone was busy with the activity of the party but there was nothing for them to do. Carl and Mina were in two separate rooms and Lauren spent her time going from one room to the other.
Mina was nervous and Lauren tried to calm her. She told her about her own wedding and told her Carl was a kind man and would allow her to follow her dreams.
Carl was also nervous. It seemed like he was in a play, for which he was the only one who did not have the script. Lauren hugged him and reminded him how thankful she was that he was willing to do this to help Mina.
Carl was to wear traditional Afghan clothes with pants big enough for two of him to stand inside, a long shirt that was intricately decorated by hand with needlepoint and a turban. Lauren, was wearing a red dress and looked incredibly beautiful. The bride would have two dresses, first a green one and then later in the evening a white one.
Finally they came to the big event, the moment he would be allowed to meet his new bride for the first time. He was brought first into a large tent that had been set up in the Mina's family's yard. Inside were hundreds of Afghan women. All this time he had not seen a single woman and then now all at once he was allowed to see behind the veil. They wore colorful dresses, laughed with each other and danced. It was so different than the men's gatherings. Those were more quiet occasions focused on consuming large quantities of food.
Carl sat alone at a table in the front of the tent. Carl was shocked to see that several of the young women were wearing strapless gowns. At first he thought that their cleavage, shoulders and arms were exposed, but when he looked closer he noticed that they were wearing flesh colored long sleeve shirts under their dresses. Muslim modesty but with modern fashion, he thought to himself.
Although it was just a paper wedding, Carl was nervous and a little excited. What would she look like? Would she like him? Would he like her? He was sure he would. If Lauren liked her so much he could be sure that she was an interesting young woman.
As the bride entered the tent, she was covered in a veil. He watched as she approached him and was seated next to him. Then someone set a mirror up on the table in front of them and only then was the veil removed. Looking into the mirror they were given the first chance to look at each other.
Mina had already seen Carl, but this was the first time that Carl had seen her. She had fine features, dark eyes, fair skin and plump lips. She smiled at him. He smiled back. She was beautiful. If all Afghan women were so beautiful, it was a crime to ever cover them up.
They looked at each other without speaking and let their eyes meet for a split second but then they looked away. It seemed strange that they were allowed to look at each other. Six months Carl had lived in Afghanistan, but until today he had never seen an Afghan woman's face. He was no longer used to seeing a woman, and being so close to this one, the one that was to be his wife, even if it was just a formality was an incredible turn on.
Her green dress was surprisingly tight fitting. In Afghanistan all clothing style, but especially women's clothing was designed to be baggy and to not reveal the shape of the body underneath. But her dress hugged her body in all the right places. She had the tight youthful body that you would expect from an attractive 19 year old. Her breasts stuck out like rockets, like a fifties pin up girl, but he suspected, that a stiff bra had more to do with that than her natural endowment. Her waist was slender, so narrow he figured could nearly span it with his hands. Her hips flared gently out and were lost under the folds of her dress.
For a few minutes they were able to acclimate themselves to each other's presence. They weren't supposed to talk. Even if they had been allowed, the music was too loud to hear anything. After what seemed like five minutes though the various rituals and traditions began.
Carl was guided around and told what to do. There were gifts, dances, food and more gifts. Finally, several hours later, after a huge meal of lamb with delicious oily rice the ceremony was over. The party would continue for several hours into the night but the couple were brought to a room where they could be alone. They would have their privacy now until the morning.
They nervously sat side by side on a cushion on the floor, neither sure who should speak first.
"It was a beautiful party." Carl ventured.
"Yes" she agreed without elaborating more.
"I like your necklace." Carl said smiling at her and indicating the large silver traditional Afghan wedding jewelry. "Is that a family heirloom?"
"Heirloom?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I mean is that from your mother or from your grandmother?"
"No, you gave it to me."
"Oh" Carl was embarrassed. He remembered now that there had been some discussion about jewelry. But he wasn't sure that he had ever seen it before it had been wrapped. There had been so many gifts...
"Look at me Mina."
She looked slightly up in his direction.
"Are you happy? Is everything alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine thank you." Mina replied trying to manage a smile.
A strand of dark hair had fallen down in front of her face. Carl reached over to brush it out of her eyes. But as his fingers toughed her hair she flinched and pulled away.
"Sorry" Carl said pulling his hand back.
"No, its ok." She replied. "I'm sorry. I'm just not used to a man touching me. Please forgive me."
"It's fine. We don't know each other. Of course you are uncomfortable."
"If you want, we can just go to sleep. It's been a long day. You can sleep over there. I can make my bed here."
She looked at him confused, "First don't you want to..." she blushed as she searched for the words, "...finish the wedding?"
It took a moment for Carl to catch her meaning. "Oh no. No, don't worry about that. That wasn't part of the plan."
"What do you mean, 'the plan'?" Mina asked confused.
"I mean this all of this. It was all just a formality, right. I wouldn't ask you to do that. It's not a real wedding after all."
"Not a real wedding! What do you mean?! What have you done to me? Do you mean to shame me and my family in front of the whole city?" Mina was irate. "If it was not a real wedding what was all of this? These gifts, this dress? I thought you were a kind man? You are just a liar!" Mina started to cry.
Carl didn't know what to say. He hadn't meant to offend her. He hated it when women cried. He was always at a loss.
He sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her. She flinched slightly again as his arm touched her but she quickly relaxed and he held her as she cried.
"Why don't you want me?" She asked eventually through her tears.
Carl thought about the question. It wasn't that he didn't want her. He wanted her. Of course he wanted her. She was a young beautiful woman. For the last six months he had been living in a world of men to the exclusion of any women. Of course he wanted her. But he had assumed that she didn't want him. Not in that way. After all she was so much younger than him and they didn't even know each other.
Carl couldn't believe that his American wife was really suggesting that he marry her Afghan friend. Could she possibly be serious? Did she really want him to marry another woman? He loved his wife, and he had been willing to travel to Afghanistan for her but this...
"That is the only way to save her." Lauren replied adamantly. "I have thought it through. If we were to just give her brother the money, there is nothing to keep him from marrying her off later. If she refuses to get married, she can't stay in Afghanistan. If she doesn't get married it will be a shame on her brother and he will have to punish her and she can't leave the country because she would need a passport and a visa and a place to go. The only solution is for someone else to marry her and the only man I trust is you!"
"But Lauren I can't marry her. I already have a wife. You!"
"Carl we are in Afghanistan. That's not a problem. As long as your current wife agrees, and I do, you are allowed to marry up to four women at a time."
"Yeah, but I'm not Afghan. I'm American. The American government doesn't recognize polygamous marriages."
"No, but they don't have to. What's important is that the Afghan government recognizes it, so she wouldn't be in danger of being married off to some guy twice her age whom she's never even seen."
"Honey, I hate to break it to you but I am a man twice her age, whom she's never even seen."
"She's seen you."
"Really? I don't remember meeting her."
"Sure several times. Of course you couldn't see her. She was wearing her burqa. But she told me that she has seen you. And anyways I have told her all about you."
"So you mean you've talked with her about this already?" Carl was still surprised that his wife would suggest such a thing.
"Of course I've talked with her already. I don't go around suggesting that my husband marry someone who isn't even interested!" Lauren laughed.
Carl was shocked how casual she was about this whole thing. How could she laugh about such an idea? Lauren was always trying to save someone, but she was also really traditional, especially in respect to marriage. It was really out of character for her to be so relaxed about the idea of him being with another woman. She usually gets jealous if he just mentions another woman.
"So you are saying, that you me, your husband, to marry this twenty year old girl. And that she wants to marry me too?" It sounded even more unreal as he said it out loud.
"Well actually, she's 19." Lauren answered under her breath. "But it's not like it's going to be a real marriage. It's just a formality so that she doesn't have to marry someone terrible. But yeah, basically that's what I'm saying."
A few hours later Carl, Lauren, and Rahmat were sitting in the living room of Mina's family home. They sat on the traditional long cushions that were positioned around walls of the room in every Afghan home. A thermos with black tea and some almonds in the shell were sitting in front of them. Their home was nice and clean but not especially wealthy.
Mina's father had worked for an international organization and had been able to provide for his family. Now that he was gone though there wasn't much income. Mina's older brother worked as a teacher. As Carl well knew, the pay from the schools was so bad that you could hardly live from it, let alone save enough to afford to get married. Mina's brother's only hope for getting married was to manage to sell Mina off to a family willing to pay top dollar.
An educated girl like Mina usually could bring a high bride price, sometimes as much $20,000. In this case they already knew that there was an offer from another family for $8000. They would have to try to beat that price and negotiate a marriage contract. If there was going to be a wedding.
After about twenty minutes Mina's brother Najib finally came in and sat down.
"Welcome to our home." He said in Dari and smiled at his guests.
This was one of the few phrases that Carl understood. But Rahmat translated for him anyway.
Carl was surprised at how young he was. He couldn't have been much more than twenty-one himself. He couldn't believe that this kid was arranging to marry his sister off for money and that it was perfectly legal.
"When will Mina be joining us?" Carl asked.
Najib and Rahmat laughed with each other and spoke together in Dari. Sometimes looking over at the two Americans. Rahmat did not bother to translate for them.
"Of course Mina will not be joining us tonight." Rahmat finally said to the two English speakers. "It would be immoral for a woman to be present in the company of men."
"But Lauren is here." Carl objected.
"That is different."
"So you mean that Mina will have no say in the agreement at all?"
"Not at all. She will agree with whatever her brother decides." Rahmat explained.
This logic wasn't at all satisfying for either of the Americans, but they had gotten used to this kind of arrangement in Afghanistan.
"So of course you must first become a Muslim." Najib smiled at Carl.
"What?!"
"Don't worry you will not have to grow a beard or anything. You will simply have to go to the mullah and declare your faith in Allah, the Prophet, the Holy Qur'an and the angels."
Carl was not a particularly religious man. He could perhaps be called a Christian. At least he had been to church a few times as a child. But he didn't really believe anything in particular. But even though he didn't have any religious convictions, it was a bit much to say that he would have to change his religion.
Carl turned to Lauren, "Did you know about this?"
"Sure it's normal. It's just a formality." Lauren replied reassuringly. "Christian women are allowed to marry Muslim men, but a Muslim woman is only allowed to marry a Muslim. But like he says it's not complicated to become Muslim."
"It's not a question about being complicated or not." Carl was indignant. "I don't even know if I believe in God, let alone Allah."
"I'm sure you will find the faith." Mina's brother smiled. "That is if you want to marry Mina."
Lauren looked over at Carl, her eyes communicating that he better get religion and get it quick. Carl was not convinced but he remained silent and the negotiations continued.
Most of the time Rahmat handled the details without translating back for the two foreigners. At one point though, they started to argue with each other. Carl interrupted and asked Rahmat what the problem was.
"Because you don't have children, he wants you to agree that if Mina does not have a child within the first year of marriage, you will be held responsible for the lack of a child. I told him this is unacceptable."
"It's no problem I agree." Carl answered.
"But Mr. Carl..."
Carl cut off Rahmat mid-sentence. "It's no problem. I agree. If there is no child it is my fault."
Who cares whose fault it is anyway? When he and Lauren were newly married they had hoped to have children but it hadn't been possible. Lauren had always blamed herself because she had cysts. If only he could have told her then that it wasn't her fault. She might not have blamed herself so much. No, if someone was going to be assigned blame he could take it. His shoulders were wide enough.
The contract was very thorough. It dealt with where they would live - in his guesthouse, there was an extra room adjacent to his own where she could stay; how often she could visit her family home -as often as she likes; whether the bride is a virgin - the brother swears it is so, but it's unclear how he would know; if she would be allowed to work -she would. Finally, they came to the main topic: the bride price.
"I think a girl like Mina. She is very special don't you agree?" Mina's brother smiled at them both. "I would not be willing to let her go with you for less than $30,000."
Their jaws dropped. They had been expecting an increase over the previous offer but this was more than three times what the other family had agreed to.
"No, we couldn't possibly." Carl objected. "I'm a teacher. Like you. I don't have that kind of money."
"No, not like me. You are American. Americans are rich." Najib smiled at him again.
Carl would have liked to leave the negotiations right then. But one look at Lauren and he knew that he couldn't leave. She had made up her mind and when she's decided something, there is no changing it.
The money wasn't really an issue. They were not rich, but Lauren's position paid well, almost a thousand dollars a day. Even at thirty thousand it was only a little more than one months work.
Finally they agreed to $12,000. But only after agreeing that the bride's family would not have to provide any of the usual furnishings for the new couple, and the groom would pay for a wedding that would cost no more than $4000.
In keeping with Afghan tradition the wedding would be in three days. Until then, there was to be no contact between Carl and Mina.
It seemed crazy to plan such a big party so quickly but all the details had already been arranged. The dresses had already been made, the caterer found. The last and seemingly most inconsequential detail was the groom. And now that he had been found the wedding could continue.
The festivities began already the next evening. Mina and Lauren went to the Khina party, where Mina intricate henna patterns were drawn on Mina's arms. Lauren enjoyed herself. They danced and laughed the whole evening. It seemed like a dream. Mina was free. She would never have to worry about being married off to some wife beating old man again.
Carl's evening was less enjoyable. He had an appointment with the local mullah. An old man showed up with the sourest expression on his face at dinner time. Carl invited him in but he only grunted an acknowledgment.
Carl, Rahmat, the chawkidar and the mullah ate a traditional meal of Afghan rice without talking. Finally, after finishing a serving big enough for two people the mullah started to speak.
He explained the tenets of Islam angrily like he had better things to do. He didn't pause for Rahmat to translate and even Rahmat struggled to keep up with the soliloquy. Finally after forty minutes, he told the chawkidar to fetch some water. And then rolling up his sleeves he demonstrated how to do the Islamic purification ritual. After that he told Carl to repeat the Shahahdah, the Islamic creed, in Arabic. The mullah seemed frustrated with Carl's pronunciation, but it must have been acceptable. Afterward, much to Carl's surprise, the mullah embraced him and gave him a big bear hug.
"Shoma digar kafir nesti, musulman shudi!" (You are no longer an infidel, you are now a Muslim!)
For a brief moment Carl felt the warmth of being part of something bigger than himself. He still wasn't sure he believed any of it, and there were many things he was critical of but it was someone nice to be part of a worldwide community.
The feeling didn't last though. A moment later, the mullah took out a ceremonial knife and told him to drop his pants. Carl was confused and uncomfortable. After some confused discussion involving gestures, he understood that they wanted to circumcise him.
Luckily Carl was already circumcised as child, but the mullah still required him to drop his shorts to prove it. Rahmat and the chawkidar were still there. The chawkidar discreetly stepped out but Rahmat stayed unabashedly.
Carl was not especially shy. But he hadn't been prepared for this at all.
Not seeing any other option, he reluctantly undid his pants and lowered his boxer shorts. His flaccid penis hung heavily between his legs. All could see that he was indeed circumcised.
It seemed to Carl that the mullah was disappointed that he had told the truth.
The mullah said something to Rahmat in Dari and walked away in a huff.
"He says, you have to shave yourself. You're no longer an animal you are a Muslim."
"What do you mean shave?" Carl asked, pulling his pants up again. "I thought muslims weren't supposed to shave."
"Down there. You have to shave yourself."
Carl was a pretty traditional guy and "manscaping" was a term from a different generation. He had never taken a razor to that part of his body and was uncomfortable thinking about it.
At least they let him do that in private. He shaved himself as best he could. He couldn't help but think what Lauren would think when she saw him next.
For the next several hours until he went to bed Carl practiced the Islamic prayers. As a Muslim he would be expected to say them five times a day and it was a part of the wedding ceremony. This whole thing was getting pretty complicated after all.
The day of the wedding everyone was stressed just like at any wedding in any country. They had to get dressed. The cook came late. The music wouldn't work. More guests came than were invited. Most of the time though Carl, Mina and Lauren seemed to be in the background.
Everyone was busy with the activity of the party but there was nothing for them to do. Carl and Mina were in two separate rooms and Lauren spent her time going from one room to the other.
Mina was nervous and Lauren tried to calm her. She told her about her own wedding and told her Carl was a kind man and would allow her to follow her dreams.
Carl was also nervous. It seemed like he was in a play, for which he was the only one who did not have the script. Lauren hugged him and reminded him how thankful she was that he was willing to do this to help Mina.
Carl was to wear traditional Afghan clothes with pants big enough for two of him to stand inside, a long shirt that was intricately decorated by hand with needlepoint and a turban. Lauren, was wearing a red dress and looked incredibly beautiful. The bride would have two dresses, first a green one and then later in the evening a white one.
Finally they came to the big event, the moment he would be allowed to meet his new bride for the first time. He was brought first into a large tent that had been set up in the Mina's family's yard. Inside were hundreds of Afghan women. All this time he had not seen a single woman and then now all at once he was allowed to see behind the veil. They wore colorful dresses, laughed with each other and danced. It was so different than the men's gatherings. Those were more quiet occasions focused on consuming large quantities of food.
Carl sat alone at a table in the front of the tent. Carl was shocked to see that several of the young women were wearing strapless gowns. At first he thought that their cleavage, shoulders and arms were exposed, but when he looked closer he noticed that they were wearing flesh colored long sleeve shirts under their dresses. Muslim modesty but with modern fashion, he thought to himself.
Although it was just a paper wedding, Carl was nervous and a little excited. What would she look like? Would she like him? Would he like her? He was sure he would. If Lauren liked her so much he could be sure that she was an interesting young woman.
As the bride entered the tent, she was covered in a veil. He watched as she approached him and was seated next to him. Then someone set a mirror up on the table in front of them and only then was the veil removed. Looking into the mirror they were given the first chance to look at each other.
Mina had already seen Carl, but this was the first time that Carl had seen her. She had fine features, dark eyes, fair skin and plump lips. She smiled at him. He smiled back. She was beautiful. If all Afghan women were so beautiful, it was a crime to ever cover them up.
They looked at each other without speaking and let their eyes meet for a split second but then they looked away. It seemed strange that they were allowed to look at each other. Six months Carl had lived in Afghanistan, but until today he had never seen an Afghan woman's face. He was no longer used to seeing a woman, and being so close to this one, the one that was to be his wife, even if it was just a formality was an incredible turn on.
Her green dress was surprisingly tight fitting. In Afghanistan all clothing style, but especially women's clothing was designed to be baggy and to not reveal the shape of the body underneath. But her dress hugged her body in all the right places. She had the tight youthful body that you would expect from an attractive 19 year old. Her breasts stuck out like rockets, like a fifties pin up girl, but he suspected, that a stiff bra had more to do with that than her natural endowment. Her waist was slender, so narrow he figured could nearly span it with his hands. Her hips flared gently out and were lost under the folds of her dress.
For a few minutes they were able to acclimate themselves to each other's presence. They weren't supposed to talk. Even if they had been allowed, the music was too loud to hear anything. After what seemed like five minutes though the various rituals and traditions began.
Carl was guided around and told what to do. There were gifts, dances, food and more gifts. Finally, several hours later, after a huge meal of lamb with delicious oily rice the ceremony was over. The party would continue for several hours into the night but the couple were brought to a room where they could be alone. They would have their privacy now until the morning.
They nervously sat side by side on a cushion on the floor, neither sure who should speak first.
"It was a beautiful party." Carl ventured.
"Yes" she agreed without elaborating more.
"I like your necklace." Carl said smiling at her and indicating the large silver traditional Afghan wedding jewelry. "Is that a family heirloom?"
"Heirloom?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I mean is that from your mother or from your grandmother?"
"No, you gave it to me."
"Oh" Carl was embarrassed. He remembered now that there had been some discussion about jewelry. But he wasn't sure that he had ever seen it before it had been wrapped. There had been so many gifts...
"Look at me Mina."
She looked slightly up in his direction.
"Are you happy? Is everything alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine thank you." Mina replied trying to manage a smile.
A strand of dark hair had fallen down in front of her face. Carl reached over to brush it out of her eyes. But as his fingers toughed her hair she flinched and pulled away.
"Sorry" Carl said pulling his hand back.
"No, its ok." She replied. "I'm sorry. I'm just not used to a man touching me. Please forgive me."
"It's fine. We don't know each other. Of course you are uncomfortable."
"If you want, we can just go to sleep. It's been a long day. You can sleep over there. I can make my bed here."
She looked at him confused, "First don't you want to..." she blushed as she searched for the words, "...finish the wedding?"
It took a moment for Carl to catch her meaning. "Oh no. No, don't worry about that. That wasn't part of the plan."
"What do you mean, 'the plan'?" Mina asked confused.
"I mean this all of this. It was all just a formality, right. I wouldn't ask you to do that. It's not a real wedding after all."
"Not a real wedding! What do you mean?! What have you done to me? Do you mean to shame me and my family in front of the whole city?" Mina was irate. "If it was not a real wedding what was all of this? These gifts, this dress? I thought you were a kind man? You are just a liar!" Mina started to cry.
Carl didn't know what to say. He hadn't meant to offend her. He hated it when women cried. He was always at a loss.
He sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her. She flinched slightly again as his arm touched her but she quickly relaxed and he held her as she cried.
"Why don't you want me?" She asked eventually through her tears.
Carl thought about the question. It wasn't that he didn't want her. He wanted her. Of course he wanted her. She was a young beautiful woman. For the last six months he had been living in a world of men to the exclusion of any women. Of course he wanted her. But he had assumed that she didn't want him. Not in that way. After all she was so much younger than him and they didn't even know each other.
Re: couple sex story - An Afghan Bride
"I would be honored to be with you. If that is what you want." He answered.
He hadn't planned on this and he knew that this was not what Lauren had planned. She had always talked about how it was just a formality, a little piece of paper. But this was what you get when you marry someone. He had told her it was a crazy idea, but she had pushed and pushed.
"Do you want this?" he asked.
She nodded her head without looking at him.
"Yes, it is my duty. If I cannot provide the proof that I am a virgin tomorrow morning, my family and I will be shamed."
"Proof?"
"You know..." she said, ashamed to speak of such things, "the towel."
"Oh" he understood. She would have to show the towel with the mixture of blood and semen proving that she had had an intact hymen.
"You have never been with a man before?" Carl asked cautiously.
"No! Never!"
"Not even a kiss?"
"No, no man has ever touched me. I have kept myself pure. I am a good Muslim girl."
"Well then, I think we should start slowly." Carl smiled at her. "Would it be ok if I took your hand?"
She nodded. Carl slowly reached down and took her hand in his. She had small hands. He held her hand without speaking and gently caressed it.
"Look at me."
Obeying she looked up at him. The thick make-up that they had put on her was now running from her tears. Carl gently and slowly brushed the tears from her face.
"I'm going to kiss you now. Ok?"
She nodded.
Carl leaned into her and being careful that only their lips touched, he gave her the most delicate kiss that he could manage.
"Did you like that?" he asked.
She nodded again.
"Should we kiss again?"
"Ok" she replied barely audibly.
Again he leaned in to kiss her but this time he allowed himself to press more deeply into her. Her breasts pressed into his body and she did not pull away. He continued to kiss her keeping the contact between their lips waiting for her to pull back. She didn't. Finally, after more than a minute he ended the kiss.
"It seems that you are a natural." He smiled at her.
She smiled sheepishly back.
"Come let's get you cleaned up." Carl brought a warm washcloth over and gently removed the thick layers of makeup. Underneath she was even more beautiful and even younger than before. He couldn't believe that this girl hardly old enough to be out of high school was his wife, his legal wife.
She was still wearing her white wedding dress. It was designed in a western style and was thick and heavy. It must have been uncomfortable.
"Do you want me to help you to take this off?" he asked indicated the dress.
Mina looked down at herself. She knew that this time would come but she wasn't sure that she was quite ready to be naked with a man. She blushed, and looked up at him, silently begging him to take the question back.
Carl seemed to take the hint and suggested that he could just unzip the back and Mina could change into something more comfortable.
Mina smiled at that suggestion and turned around so that he could unzip the hard to reach zipper. Carl had done this hundreds of times for his wife, his first wife. But this was clearly something precious. He treasured this moment, the first time that Mina had allowed a man to see her bare shoulders.
There was a small private wash room next to their room and Mina went in there to change out of her wedding dress. She came back several minutes later with simple but pretty traditional Afghan outfit. Like the male version she was wearing thin bagging pants and a long shirt. Her outfit was much more colorful though than the male versions.
Carl was sitting on the cushion where they had sat earlier. And when she came out he indicated that she should sit down next to him.
"I won't do anything that you don't want." he promised her. And taking her hand again he leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Gradually she was getting comfortable with his presence and slowly he rested his hand on her thigh. The thin fabric did not provide much of a barrier between his hand and her skin. Still kissing he slowly moved his hand up her thigh until it was resting on her hip.
For Mina this was all incredibly exciting. Each touch of Carl's hand was a new frontier breached. Her thigh, her hip, the small of her back. She was scared but aroused. Each touch elicited new sensations in her body that she couldn't control.
Slowly, Carl took her hand again and pulling it toward himself he guided it onto his inner thigh. Very gently giving her full opportunity to pull her hand away, Carl guided her hand over his manhood and held it there.
Secretly, Mina had always wondered what a penis felt like. Through the fabric she was able to make out its shape, the soft fleshy area and the hard erection. Gently she explored with her fingers.
"Would you like to see it?" Carl asked quietly.
Mina breathed in deeply. Would she? Of course. But how could she say that. She was raised to be a proper woman. Muslim girls don't talk about those kinds of desires.
Carl didn't wait for her to answer. He slowly undid his oversized pants. An advantage of the design was that they are very loose and comfortable and very easy to remove.
Slipping his pants off, he lifted up the hem of his shirt so that she could see his now shaved penis and scrotum. It looked strange to him without its usual covering almost like it was even more naked than usual.
Mina just looked, fascinated. But Carl took her hand again and guided it to his erect cock. She hadn't imagined that it would be so big. How could that possibly fit into her? She wrapped her fingers around the shaft and felt its warmth.
Carl leaned in and kissed her again and emboldened by their progress he let his hand glide up her inner thigh, stopping just short of his goal. Still on top of her thin pants he slowly inched his way closer until he felt the soft flesh of her outer labia underneath the fabric. Pressing his fingers into her the fabric was soon wet with her lubrication. She was ready.
Without a word he loosened the hazarband that held her pants closed and slipped the loose fitting garment off.
Like him, she was completely shaved. He slid his hand over her exposed pussy. It was slippery with her pent up juices released for the first time. He had never slept with a woman who shaved down there. This was for him a new experience. He could see why the young people did it. It was so soft and smooth. He gently caressed her lips, spreading her natural lubrication. Slowly, gently, he caressed the sensitive area above her slit. At his touch she tensed and moved her hips forward.
Laying her down on the cushion, he moved over her and guided his penis into position. The head of his penis slid happily into the hot wet lips.
"Now this is going to hurt a little." He whispered and he slowly pushed himself into her tight virgin pussy. She was so tight. He wasn't sure if he had ever entered a pussy this tight before. His penis ached to enter all the way and he pressed through until finally he felt her open up to him.
Mina gasped slightly as her womanhood was stretched and ripped to make room for Carl inside of her. Her body was being molded into a perfect fit for him. It was being forever changed never to be the same again. It was an experience of pleasure mixed with pain. It hurt when he entered her but somehow she longed for him to fill her, to come deeper and deeper inside of her.
Carl watched Mina's reaction. Her eyes were closed and her face was stuck in an expression of concentration. But it was clear that she was enjoying herself. As he pushed into her, her hips matched his rhythm. As he cupped her breasts underneath her shirt she let out a low mhmm.
Carl was committed to bringing her to orgasm this first time. It was the least that he could do he figured but eventually he felt himself coming and there wasn't anything that he could do to hold it back. He felt himself spill into her and at the same time he felt her contract, tightening the already tight hole around him.
Carl kissed her one last time before he pulled himself out of her. He wiped off the pinkish liquid that testified that she was indeed a virgin and set the towel to the side.
Carl turned off the lights and Mina went to the washroom to bathe herself. As Carl lay in the dark waiting for her return he thought about what had just happened. It hadn't been expected but it had been a beautiful thing. He wouldn't tell Lauren about it. It would only make her unnecessarily jealous. It wasn't like she needed to know, it would never happen again. She had had to this time because of her family's honor. But he had to admit it, it had been fun.
He hadn't planned on this and he knew that this was not what Lauren had planned. She had always talked about how it was just a formality, a little piece of paper. But this was what you get when you marry someone. He had told her it was a crazy idea, but she had pushed and pushed.
"Do you want this?" he asked.
She nodded her head without looking at him.
"Yes, it is my duty. If I cannot provide the proof that I am a virgin tomorrow morning, my family and I will be shamed."
"Proof?"
"You know..." she said, ashamed to speak of such things, "the towel."
"Oh" he understood. She would have to show the towel with the mixture of blood and semen proving that she had had an intact hymen.
"You have never been with a man before?" Carl asked cautiously.
"No! Never!"
"Not even a kiss?"
"No, no man has ever touched me. I have kept myself pure. I am a good Muslim girl."
"Well then, I think we should start slowly." Carl smiled at her. "Would it be ok if I took your hand?"
She nodded. Carl slowly reached down and took her hand in his. She had small hands. He held her hand without speaking and gently caressed it.
"Look at me."
Obeying she looked up at him. The thick make-up that they had put on her was now running from her tears. Carl gently and slowly brushed the tears from her face.
"I'm going to kiss you now. Ok?"
She nodded.
Carl leaned into her and being careful that only their lips touched, he gave her the most delicate kiss that he could manage.
"Did you like that?" he asked.
She nodded again.
"Should we kiss again?"
"Ok" she replied barely audibly.
Again he leaned in to kiss her but this time he allowed himself to press more deeply into her. Her breasts pressed into his body and she did not pull away. He continued to kiss her keeping the contact between their lips waiting for her to pull back. She didn't. Finally, after more than a minute he ended the kiss.
"It seems that you are a natural." He smiled at her.
She smiled sheepishly back.
"Come let's get you cleaned up." Carl brought a warm washcloth over and gently removed the thick layers of makeup. Underneath she was even more beautiful and even younger than before. He couldn't believe that this girl hardly old enough to be out of high school was his wife, his legal wife.
She was still wearing her white wedding dress. It was designed in a western style and was thick and heavy. It must have been uncomfortable.
"Do you want me to help you to take this off?" he asked indicated the dress.
Mina looked down at herself. She knew that this time would come but she wasn't sure that she was quite ready to be naked with a man. She blushed, and looked up at him, silently begging him to take the question back.
Carl seemed to take the hint and suggested that he could just unzip the back and Mina could change into something more comfortable.
Mina smiled at that suggestion and turned around so that he could unzip the hard to reach zipper. Carl had done this hundreds of times for his wife, his first wife. But this was clearly something precious. He treasured this moment, the first time that Mina had allowed a man to see her bare shoulders.
There was a small private wash room next to their room and Mina went in there to change out of her wedding dress. She came back several minutes later with simple but pretty traditional Afghan outfit. Like the male version she was wearing thin bagging pants and a long shirt. Her outfit was much more colorful though than the male versions.
Carl was sitting on the cushion where they had sat earlier. And when she came out he indicated that she should sit down next to him.
"I won't do anything that you don't want." he promised her. And taking her hand again he leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Gradually she was getting comfortable with his presence and slowly he rested his hand on her thigh. The thin fabric did not provide much of a barrier between his hand and her skin. Still kissing he slowly moved his hand up her thigh until it was resting on her hip.
For Mina this was all incredibly exciting. Each touch of Carl's hand was a new frontier breached. Her thigh, her hip, the small of her back. She was scared but aroused. Each touch elicited new sensations in her body that she couldn't control.
Slowly, Carl took her hand again and pulling it toward himself he guided it onto his inner thigh. Very gently giving her full opportunity to pull her hand away, Carl guided her hand over his manhood and held it there.
Secretly, Mina had always wondered what a penis felt like. Through the fabric she was able to make out its shape, the soft fleshy area and the hard erection. Gently she explored with her fingers.
"Would you like to see it?" Carl asked quietly.
Mina breathed in deeply. Would she? Of course. But how could she say that. She was raised to be a proper woman. Muslim girls don't talk about those kinds of desires.
Carl didn't wait for her to answer. He slowly undid his oversized pants. An advantage of the design was that they are very loose and comfortable and very easy to remove.
Slipping his pants off, he lifted up the hem of his shirt so that she could see his now shaved penis and scrotum. It looked strange to him without its usual covering almost like it was even more naked than usual.
Mina just looked, fascinated. But Carl took her hand again and guided it to his erect cock. She hadn't imagined that it would be so big. How could that possibly fit into her? She wrapped her fingers around the shaft and felt its warmth.
Carl leaned in and kissed her again and emboldened by their progress he let his hand glide up her inner thigh, stopping just short of his goal. Still on top of her thin pants he slowly inched his way closer until he felt the soft flesh of her outer labia underneath the fabric. Pressing his fingers into her the fabric was soon wet with her lubrication. She was ready.
Without a word he loosened the hazarband that held her pants closed and slipped the loose fitting garment off.
Like him, she was completely shaved. He slid his hand over her exposed pussy. It was slippery with her pent up juices released for the first time. He had never slept with a woman who shaved down there. This was for him a new experience. He could see why the young people did it. It was so soft and smooth. He gently caressed her lips, spreading her natural lubrication. Slowly, gently, he caressed the sensitive area above her slit. At his touch she tensed and moved her hips forward.
Laying her down on the cushion, he moved over her and guided his penis into position. The head of his penis slid happily into the hot wet lips.
"Now this is going to hurt a little." He whispered and he slowly pushed himself into her tight virgin pussy. She was so tight. He wasn't sure if he had ever entered a pussy this tight before. His penis ached to enter all the way and he pressed through until finally he felt her open up to him.
Mina gasped slightly as her womanhood was stretched and ripped to make room for Carl inside of her. Her body was being molded into a perfect fit for him. It was being forever changed never to be the same again. It was an experience of pleasure mixed with pain. It hurt when he entered her but somehow she longed for him to fill her, to come deeper and deeper inside of her.
Carl watched Mina's reaction. Her eyes were closed and her face was stuck in an expression of concentration. But it was clear that she was enjoying herself. As he pushed into her, her hips matched his rhythm. As he cupped her breasts underneath her shirt she let out a low mhmm.
Carl was committed to bringing her to orgasm this first time. It was the least that he could do he figured but eventually he felt himself coming and there wasn't anything that he could do to hold it back. He felt himself spill into her and at the same time he felt her contract, tightening the already tight hole around him.
Carl kissed her one last time before he pulled himself out of her. He wiped off the pinkish liquid that testified that she was indeed a virgin and set the towel to the side.
Carl turned off the lights and Mina went to the washroom to bathe herself. As Carl lay in the dark waiting for her return he thought about what had just happened. It hadn't been expected but it had been a beautiful thing. He wouldn't tell Lauren about it. It would only make her unnecessarily jealous. It wasn't like she needed to know, it would never happen again. She had had to this time because of her family's honor. But he had to admit it, it had been fun.