For the Love of a Son by Jean Sasson

Author:Jean Sasson [Sasson, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Liza Dawson Associates
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Although I was as joyful to be leaving, I was also sad and apprehensive because my poor mother would be left alone in Kabul. Also, several cousins had put in their application for leaving Afghanistan. Only one cousin, Layla, was granted her request. Another cousin, named Mona, was refused. Many family members would have to remain in Afghanistan and suffer whatever the future held for our beloved country and its trapped citizens.

There were a few more hurdles. Papa and I had to pass a criminal check, but we were unconcerned because of the protection of our friends at the ministries. Within a month we were issued our passports and our visas from the Indian Embassy. Papa booked our flight on Air India.

Never once did I believe I was leaving my country for ever, yet leaving without a planned return is more difficult than I imagined. Once all the arrangements had been made, the reality set in. Soon I would be leaving the land I loved, not knowing what the future might bring to my country or to my beloved family. And there was the question of when Mother would be allowed to join us. Freedom would be joyless without Mother.

That’s when Papa told me that I could only pack a small bag so that we could keep up the official illusion that we were returning.

I was always a collector of little treasures. My heart felt heavy when I was warned that I could not risk taking my coin or stamp collection. For long hours I sat on the edge of my bed rummaging through my rare coins, my rocks and the scores of model cars I had saved since my tomboy childhood. I spent many long hours poring over my rare stamp collection, given to me by Grandfather Hassen, who had passed on to me many rare and valuable stamps.

I was sad when I realized that that the stamps and the coins were irreplaceable. As I hid them away in my room, I made a vow. ‘I will be back. I will not lose these precious family treasures.’

With a big sigh I packed a few clothes, along with my diary, which had become as dear to me as a close friend. The following morning I went into our garden and scratched out a small pile of Afghan dirt, wrapping it carefully in a small cloth. I would carry the beloved soil of my country with me when I departed.

I couldn’t even say goodbye to my friends and family, for my parents no longer trusted me and worried that gossip about our plot to leave Afghanistan permanently might reach the ears of the officials. Only Mother’s brother Omar and his young daughter knew we were leaving, and that was because they had graciously agreed to drive Papa and me to the airport. Mother would accompany us as well, but would return alone to our empty home.

December the twenty-seventh, 1979, arrived on a Thursday, the beginning of the Muslim weekend. Uncle Omar and his daughter arrived early.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.