The Child Bride

      She was perhaps the prettiest thing he had ever laid eyes on. Delicately formed and fragile, she was a human porcelain doll. Her back was straight, erect and her perfect posture was probably a result of years of gentle reprimanding by her mother and aunts.

      Her complexion was exceedingly fair. There was an almost disconcerting transparency to her skin. She wasn't exactly pale. In fact her temples, cheeks and nose were a bright pink. But the colour was not one of health. It was almost as though he could observe every breath she took.

      She had black hair, which had been carefully tied in a plait. The whiteness of her skin was in stark contrast to her heavy, dark braid. Her eyes were large. "Almost like an owl's.", someone had informed him. Those eyes looked at him with dejection. Tears welled up in them but she didn't cry. She didn't let out a sound. She just stood there-silent, wordless, almost defiant.
     
      She made a strange sight to behold. She was bedecked in wedding finery-a flaming red saree, wrapped twice around her as it was too large for her body. The jewels were too heavy for her fragile body. She looked as though she might die due to the combined weight of her heavy silk saree, the mortification of this awkward social situation and the gnawing fear of the future she was now trapped in.
    
       He had taken this sad, beautiful child as his wife and he had no choice. 

       He met her gaze again.
     
       He went out of the room to inform them that he was going to pay for her education and send her back to school.
"This is no age for a child to be married.'', he said angrily. His mother started crying and so did his sister. His father cursed the day he had sent him to college.

      After much protest on his behalf, she was sent back to her house the next week. The neighbours were horrified and so were her parents.
    
      But he knew she was happy.
      He saw her leave-a bright, happy smile on her face.

      In that moment, he wondered if he loved her.
      He sighed.

''The Child Bride'' by Soraya Nulliah

Just a short piece I wrote from my phone. Even better work next time. Promise.