The Raven : An Afghan Love Story

It was no wonder that they were born a day apart. Avantika sheikh was the third girl child in her family, and her father cried when she was born. Farhad, on the other hand, was the second child and was her neighbor. 

Their houses were separated by a wall in a small village in Kabul.

At 5 years, they both used to race in the lane outside their houses and Farhad won all the time. They were the best of buddies and used to share sweets and their favorite foods from their respective homes with each other. They shared toys. She loved his guns and he loved her coloring books. He was an artist from the start.


At 7 years, Farhad showed her his first drawing made out of color paints that his father had got. She loved it and gave out a small squeal.

Their time now spent together was less, as Farhad used to go to school and she had to help her mother in housework. In the afternoon, when all were sleeping they used to meet on the rooftops and cross over to each other’s houses on wooden planks.

That one hour they used to play and be themselves: children. That one hour, Sheikh was happiest.

Farhad tried to give her books so she could read, but with the little schooling that her father allowed at home, the words looked scary.

At 8 years, Farhad tried coaxing Avantika to go out with him to the market. He had been there with his father several times. She wasn’t permitted to leave the lane, even if it was with her childhood friend.
Avantika's world was her dolls, her pots, and pans, the kitchen and her Farhad.

U.S. troops in Afghanistan

After the deployment of U.S. troops in Afganisthan they spent hours in watching soldiers releasing drones,RAVENS perhaps they call it.

   

At 17 years, Farhad returned from his boarding school. It had been 9 years since they had spoken. He was more athletic now and as handsome as before. Avantika tried to peep into his house and made excuses to sweep the garden just to get a glimpse of him.

She recalled when he left for the boarding school, how her heart had broken and how the tears would dry up just before she would sleep. He had promised her that he would return and make her his.

Finally, she saw him.

He came out of the house and he was talking on his cell phone. He looked towards her and continued talking as if she didn’t exist. He finished his call and saw her beaming. He smiled back and walked towards her.

“Hi, you look familiar,” he said.

She kept smiling because she was seeing him after nine years. Her heart couldn’t stop prancing; it didn’t matter that he didn’t remember her.

“Avantika , remember .......Avantika Sheikh?” she said.

“Oh yes of course, how you been?” They exchanged small pleasantries and he went back into his house.

The next day he was going to the market. He called out to his mother to inquire if she wanted anything. Avantika ran towards the back gate and tried to catch up with him as he was walking. She wanted to talk to him. They continued walking and they talked and before she knew it, they were at the market.

She knew if she was seen with a strange man who was not her father or brother, she would be punished. He assured her no one would know and asked her to cover her already hidden face. He collected his art supplies and they made it back home.

However, Farhad’s ruthless uncle saw them together and complained to the local council. The fifteen-minute walk was going to cost her dearly.

The council member gathered that evening and announced a sentence. She would receive fifty lashes unless the person who had complained withdrew the complaint.

Her father didn’t want to face the humiliation and so he didn’t put up a fight.

Farhad was fined 100 coins.
She bore the lashes, all 25 of them till she fainted. But they continued.
Her fragile body couldn’t take it. 17 years of being malnourished were not letting her stand.

Farhad stood there frozen. He was losing her and it didn’t matter to him as she was just another woman who should have known better. The boarding school had brainwashed him and showed him that women were just chattels.

In her tears and in her pain, she recalled how she used to race with him as kids, but now she would meet her Maker.

She was going to be free, free of running between the two houses and free from the misery of her life without him. She had loved him then; but she had loved her Farhad and not the coward standing at the front of the crowd, watching her being tormented.

The only person crying was her mother, who had tried to shield her all these years and protect her. Her sisters hadn’t been allowed to come or else no one would marry them.

As the lashes became more intense, she recalled her 7th birthday and smiled at what she had wished for. She had innocently wished for winning the race with Farhad.

She would win this time around. Race.Like a Raven flying high in the sky free from all chains and bondage.

Inspired by the novel: The kite runner.