Before Sunrise
Neeha Roomi was only twelve when she was raped for the first time. She was a famous model
and dancer. Her delicate untroubled style was famous throughout the Arab world. It aroused the
deepest emotions of her audiences. It was hard to tell, as you watched her perform, that she had
been raped repeatedly in her childhood.
I had known of Neeha for many years. I had seen her dance on Arab T.V. But I did not meet her
until my friend, Abdullah, took me to one of the most highly reputed Arabian nightclubs, to a
special show in which Neeha's dance was featured.
As he and I found seats at a small table, Abdullah said, "I am going to tell you something about
which you will want to write a story."
He knew that I was a writer, and I knew that he was a good story teller. And so he spoke, and I
listened. Abdullah poured wine and passed a cup to me.
He began, speaking slowly:
"Rape is very common thing in Pakistan."
"So what is strange about that?" I said. "Evil itself is very common in our country. Some are
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