A Reply to “ A Message from Kabul”

Dear writer of \"A message from Kabul\",

When I first read your letter, a part of my gut wrenched, something felt heavy at my throat as I was trying to swallow this bit of information. I can only imagine with my limitations, what it must be like to be you, what it must feel like to be in your shoes.

You are brave.... and I tell this not as some pouring words of sympathy but as a genuine heartfelt respect towards your resiliency, over the years and especially, right now. I know everything must seem like a pitch black hole around you, you may or may not feel there is hope at all and it is justified. Its heartbreaking when the system fails you and what you've been working on... its certain, hopes turn into despair in just a matter of seconds. But I just want to tell you, dear sister, don't give up on even the faintest ray of faith that's left in you. Do not give up on yourselves or what you or older generations of Afghan women have worked on all these years. Remember, its not your fault and no you don't even have to be ashamed of a history that you didn't even contribute or agreed to. 

Its the government, the people you trusted who failed you miserably and they are the ones who should put their heads down, not you. You have done your part...hold your head high... and stand strong like you always have. Stand strong because all of you have been pioneers of a beautiful story of courage and resilience, of continuous effort, in a place of havoc and terror, just know, you have served as an epitome of what a woman is and what a woman can be. 

I say this based on my personal experience which I am fully aware is nothing, I repeat nothing, compared to your agony...but I have seen the darkness too, I have been through phases in life where despair and unfortunate events took a lot from me, times when every door seemed to have been shut on my face and 'light at the end of the tunnel' seemed like a fairytale concept hard to believe, yet, I am still here, I am here and that's all that matters because often, when you feel you are near to losing a battle you fought religiously, you tend to come out even stronger. You will too, have faith that this shall pass like it always has.

Dear writer of the letter and all the Afghan women fighting their own battles amidst the nightmare Afghanistan has come face to face with, I want you to not give up on your colorful dreams, I want you to be stronger than the fear that surrounds you, keeps you awake at nights. I want you to know there is a bigger world and it stands in solidarity with you at the moment. I know I stand with you...even though I am miles away and I know there are other women and men, just like me thinking of you, praying for you, working for you. 

Do not let the darkness around you swallow your light. Do not give up on yourselves, me and everyone who believe in your power.

I pray for more strength and power for you, I pray you get to see the sun sooner, I pray that all the effort you have put through in building the blocks of freedom for all the generations of Afghan women over the years doesn't go down in drains and that you finally get to breathe in the air filled with only love and light, I pray from the bottom of my heart. 

I want to tell you so many things, hold your hand and let you know how in awe I am and have been of your courage. I want to tell you, you aren't alone in your battles and that the world is with you, in spirit, and as allies. Right now, I can only hope you read this letter and it provides you even a little value to help you get through these times. I hope you get through these times and make history like you always have. May you come out victorious.

Nothing but respect and love to you. I look forward to seeing you all at the other side.

Warm regards,

Sambridhi