Unfinished Dreams; Kankor Without Afghan Girls

Part One

Photo: UNICEF/Amin Meerzad

Author: Roina Bakhshi

It was a rainy day, and Raihan, while gazing out the window at the birds perched on the tree, was thinking about her dreams and wishes. She had no idea whether she would ever achieve them or not.

Mother: “Raihan, come, breakfast is ready.”

Raihan: “Ok Mom, I’ll come in a few minutes.”

Raihan wanted to watch the birds a little longer. Their chirping, their hopping from branch to branch, and their longing to find a mate had enchanted her. Her mother kept calling out, but Raihan playfully ignored the voice. In the end, however, she had to tear herself away from the birds and join the breakfast spread.

She ate her breakfast in silence, and her mother could tell from her expression that something was troubling her. After breakfast, still quiet, she began tidying up the house; washing the dishes, wiping the windows, and tidied the house.

Her mother said, “Raihan, what’s wrong with you this morning?”

Raihan replied, “I don’t know why I feel so down and upset. I have a bad feeling today.”

Rahmat, with a backpack full of books and pens, came toward her with mischief and joy, bouncing in her gaze. When he got close, he playfully tapped her knee with a pen and said,

“What are you daydreaming about? Come study some math with me. I have a test tomorrow.”

Her blank stare broke away from some unknown place, and she looked at her younger brother. In her eyes, he seemed joyful and carefree.

“You little rascal, you’ve grown so big from eating so much, but you still can’t solve your questions! Mischief sparkles from your eyes, and all you ever want is to pull me out of my daydreams, huh?”

She smiled and helped him with his lessons. After solving a few difficult equations, Raihan went to her room and opened her schoolbooks. She gazed lovingly at her neatly arranged notebooks, the carefully written titles in bold red ink, the rest in blue, the little flowers drawn beside the pages, and the books resting in the blue bookshelf.

She had a tall, three-shelf cabinet where she kept her belongings. One section was dedicated to the books she read with love.

She recalled her final year of school; a time when she and her classmates went to school together with excitement and passion.

The yellow and white color of the room’s walls reminded her of the classroom. Her room was decorated with a bed, a chair, a desk, a cabinet, and a red Afghan carpet that she had chosen herself with care. She loved that space deeply; it was her only comforting refuge in moments of sorrow. Whenever she needed solitude, she preferred to retreat there, because from that spot, she could sit and watch the view outside the window.

It has been almost two years since she last went to school, because the Taliban do not allow girls to receive an education. Even thinking about it made her kind heart ache. Raihan had beautiful dreams of finishing her education in her homeland so she could serve her family and her people.

She wept pearl-like tears for her dreams, when suddenly there was a knock at the door.

Her mother’s silhouette appeared in the doorway, and the moment she opened the door, she froze in place. With furrowed brows, she looked at her daughter with urgency and surprise.

“My dear daughter, are you crying?”

Raihan wiped her tears.

“Mother dear, I was thinking about the dreams I had after graduating from school... how I would build my character and achieve my goals.”

Her mother said,

“May I be sacrificed for your beautiful honey, almond-shaped eyes, my daughter.”

Her mother gently tucked behind her ear the golden strands of Raihan’s hair that had fallen loose and been dampened by tears. She showered her beloved daughter with affection and blessings, then wrapped her in her warm embrace.

“Such a pity if those tulip-like cheeks should ever burn in the fire of sorrow...”

She kissed her moonlike face, caressed her gently, and after a brief pause, continued.

“Don’t worry, my daughter. All of this will pass. God willing, you’ll return to school and continue your education.”

“I hope so,” she replied.

Raihan drew strength from her mother’s pure and kind-hearted words, seeing her as the true fighter in her life. Her mother’s embrace was the safest place in the face of every fear. Being near her and feeling her kindness gave Raihan's heart the strength to carry on.

She lived through a painful day, filled with memories and dreams that had been lost.

When the Taliban took over the government, the country’s economic, social, political, and cultural conditions began to deteriorate. Chaos took hold, and people were caught up in their lives, overwhelmed by disorder and uncertainty.

Human beings are always in search of those with whom the good and bad moments of life become bearable; those with whom they can share both joy and sorrow.

Whenever Raihan thought of Mursal, a smile appeared on her lips. She was the sugar and sweetness of Raihan’s heart; her jokes and laughter brought cheer to Raihan’s moments of longing.

They called Mursal the “Pythagoras of the math class,” and everyone would say, “We’re waiting for your next formula, dear Pythagoras!”

The only person who could ease Raihan’s worries and inner doubts was her tall and graceful friend, Rana. Raihan was often amazed by her intelligence and sharp mind; there was a hidden meaning behind every idea she shared. Hadia, the kind-hearted one, was Raihan’s companion in moments of restlessness, she listened more than she spoke. She paid close attention to her friends’ conversations and was deeply committed to her studies.

The four of them shared a deep and close bond, filled with countless memories from school, with their teachers, classmates, and exams. Football and walking together were their favorite leisure activities. During exam season, they studied side by side. Their exam results were always good, and they shared their success with their families to gain even more support.

An indescribable love and affection flowed between each one of them.

All four girls had beautiful dreams and goals. They studied the subjects of eleventh grade with excitement and enthusiasm to prepare for the Kankor entrance exam. Together, they planned for graduation and continuing their education.

After the Kankor exam, they hoped to enter Kabul University and study in their chosen fields.

Raihan was a strong and courageous girl. She always managed her tasks with order and precision. She was one of the best, most capable, and intelligent students in the class. All the teachers loved her; with her kindness and pleasant demeanor, she was beloved by everyone. She treated her friends with warmth and was always there for them in difficult times.

Hadia, with her sweet smile, was generous to her younger brothers and sisters. She preferred to take care of her own responsibilities and helped her mother with household tasks. She wanted to be a useful and impactful person in both her family and society.