A Letter to Mariam

A 1000 Splendid Suns

By Pragya Pandey, BA (Hons.) Sociology, third year

Edited by Vasvi Singhal

Dear Mariam,
Your story is a tapestry woven with threads of suffering and resilience, which has profoundly touched me. In a world that seemed to conspire against you, you defied societal expectations and refused to let your illegitimate birth define you. Your quiet endurance spoke volumes about the power of the human soul, reminding me that while we cannot choose our circumstances, we can choose how we respond to them.

The walls of your kolba could hold your dreams but never the boundless love in your heart. You were hungry for a father's love, and in that hunger, there is a purity that I honestly seek to find. Despite the harshness of the world, your love remained pure, untouched by the bitterness. And then there was Laila, the daughter you never had but always deserved. Your relationship with her, despite the challenges, proved the enduring power of love. Your ultimate sacrifice for her and her children showcased the depth of your maternal instinct and selflessness.

Your story is a symphony of pain and beauty, despair and redemption. It reminds me that vulnerability can be a source of strength, love is a powerful force, and endurance is a testament to the human spirit.

Thank you, Mariam, for inspiring me to see the world not as it is, but as it could and should be: a place filled with hope, love, and strength.

With all my heart,
Your earnest admirer