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his daughter with homework .
“ I work in daytime and I am tired at night . I teach my son , but my daughters don ’ t have any future in education because the school only goes to class nine and then they are done . But my son comes with his book and asks for help because he is sure he will go to university . He says , ‘ At least I could go to Khandud .’”
When asked why he doesn ’ t move his family to Khandud so the girls can attend high school , too , Darwaish replied : “ Then how would I feed my family ?”
Talk of the girls ’ limited options , however , reminds him of something else .
“ Gul Bahar and Jamal are the only girls their age in this village not married ,” he said proudly . “ They are engaged but we are waiting until they turn 18 to marry them .”
It is the twins ’ good luck to have been born into a family willing to wait on marriage for them . It ’ s not uncommon in the Wakhan to meet women who were married at age 10 or 12 and became mothers at age 13 .
“ Other families have so many children , and when they are poor its better that daughters go and live with husband ’ s family ,” Darwaish said . “ When there are 12 or 18 or 20 people in a house , they just marry their daughter to get rid of one mouth to feed . I have one relative who wanted to have a son , but he had six daughters . He just kept trying . Then he had all these kids and they didn ’ t have enough clothes to wear or food to eat , so he just married them off . I am waiting until they are 18 because there are only five people in my family .”
j 8 : 00 p . m . i
AFTER HOMEWORK , Gul Bahar helps her mother prepare dinner , typically a simple meal of fresh nan , choi , and yoghurt .
The daylight lingers for a while after the sun slips behind the mountains , and the family relaxes into the evening . People typically don ’ t read for pleasure here . And of course there are no televisions , radio , or computers for entertainment . Instead , people talk . They tell stories . They recite passages from the Quran . They sing songs .
A few people have battery-powered or gas-fuelled lanterns ( they buy the gas or batteries from traders ), which help extend productivity past dark . But the lack of electricity means most people tend to call it a day when darkness falls .
j 9 : 00 p . m . i
ONCE THE DISHES ARE WASHED and animals corralled for the night , the girls prepare the sleeping mats and blankets .
In Wakhi homes , everyone sleeps together in the main room . At this time of year , any remaining fire in the hearth is left to burn itself out .
Outside , the stars fill the sky , forming a blanket of light over the Wakhan . y
FA L L 2 0 1 4 Journey of Hope | 35