Warda continued her education in a school run by an Afghan women’s organisation, and a United Nations scholarship allowed her brother to enrol in a medical school in Peshawar, the capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan.
Saifullah began instructing high school and college students in literature and poetry while residing in the refugee camp. He became friends with Mohsin Khan, a visiting faculty member who was a Pashtun from the Yousafzai clan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He introduced Saifullah to the literary society in Peshawar, where he would actively participate in literary events. A year later, Mohsin persuaded Saifullah to shift into a house in his neighbourhood.
Moving from the refugee camp to a home in the middle of the city was an exciting transition for the family. Warda enrolled in a local high school, and the family could not be happier.
As time passed, Warda completed her bachelor’s in contemporary literature, and her brother, Mustafa, graduated from medical school.
Tahir Khan, Mustafa’s close friend and the son of Mohsin Khan, worked as a civil engineer for a private company. A tall, attractive young man, he was a frequent guest at Saifullah’s house, and, over time, Warda took a fancy to him.
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Even though both families had progressive and literary backgrounds, they were conservative regarding Pashtun traditions. While talking with Tahir, Warda was cautious not to look at him and chose to peer from behind the curtains.
Even though their only interactions in the previous five years consisted of greeting each other at the door whenever Tahir visited her brother and exchanging brief hellos, Warda realised she was profoundly in love with him.
On Eid day, celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the conclusion of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, Tahir’s family gathered at supper. One of his sisters remarked, “We should get Tahir married.” His two sisters, who were already married, made fun of him: “Now that we’re married and living in different places, Mommy needs someone to listen to her gripes about Daddy.”
“Agreed! Do you have anyone in mind, Engineer Tahir? His father asked, catching his son with a wry smile. The moment the image formed in Tahir’s mind, one of his sisters said, “'I once asked Warda if she liked Tahir.”
“And?” Tahir blurted, and everyone laughed out loud.
“So, we go to their house tomorrow to ask for Warda’s hand before someone else proposes to her,” the mother remarked joyfully.
Within 48 hours, Tahir and Warda were engaged, and a couple of months later, they tied the knot.
Afterward, Warda moved to another town with her husband. Although they felt sad when their daughter left, Saifullah and Banou considered themselves fortunate.
Warda began working at a college, and her life seemed blissful.
However, she would eagerly consume any news story about Afghanistan that she came across because a part of her heart still belonged to her homeland.