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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
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