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Zarina was engaged to Aftab Gul. As per Afridi Tribes customs, the decisive powers lie with Malik (Head) of the clan Zamarrad Khan. He decided this wedlock to be. Two months back, a jirga (meeting of notables to decide a dispute) was scheduled to be held in the courtyard of Sharbat Khan Zarina's father. That day, Zarina and her mom were busy in preparing Sajji and Qahwa for the guests. Suddenly, Nausheen, Zarina's friend, entered in the kitchen, looked around and then sat down beside Zarina, and whispered "Aftab is sitting in the Jirga, wanna see him?" Without waiting for the reply, she stood and before exiting she turned her face and with her blue eyes winked to Zarina. Zarina continued to prepare Qahwa and after she was done with, she said, "Mom, going to prepare Hukka (eastern smoking tobacco pot)".

"Make three Hukkas", Her mom said, "One is in storeroom and two are already in your father's room". All the time, when she was giving direction to Zarina she didn't look to her daughter and engrossed herself in turning the sling which turned the side of lamb which was being roasted. Zarina stood behind Nausheen who was watching the Jirga proceedings from the window. The darkness inside the room camouflaged them. "There" Nausheen meant Aftab. "Oh, that one with a foot beard". "Not that stupid," "The one with light green shirt, sitting right beside Malik Zamarrad Khan". With an Oh, she busied herself scanning Aftab. To her, he looked sober. He was quiet and not even taking interest in the heated arguments going on. He looked lost and kind of living in some other world. The greenery of hair on his face looked good to Zarina. His shoulders were broad and from every angle he looked a perfect macho man. Some how, Aftab Gul looked a mystery man. But that feeling thrilled her and when she thought about her meeting with him the first night, her breaths got heavy. This was the first time she saw Aftab Gul, and was the last she saw him alive.

Last week, Zamarrad Khan visited her house and said something to her father. They both departed without telling anything to any of the inmates. After half an hour, her mother came to her and smooched her in her arms and cried, "Zarina, your mangitar (would be husband) is martyred. For more than five minutes there were hues and cries from all presents except Zarina who didn't know what to do or say.

After two days, they all went to Aftab's house. His body had been brought from hills near Kabul. He was killed by firing of NATO choppers, while he was trying to retrieve the body of his dead companion. Aftab was a trained Mujahid and had earlier made several successful ambushes on NATO forces. Not a single tear was shed, his father looked proud of his dead son and so were ladies of the house. Aftab Gul was buried with full honor and pride. Zarina visited the room of the deceased and saw that his room was decorated with latest deadly weapons like grenades, automatic and semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and one suicide belt. Some wads of 1000 and 5000 rupees bills were scattered on a cot. Zarina picked up a shining metal rifle, smelled it and said to herself, "I want to be a Mujahida".

Learn more about this author, Khalid Humayun.
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