Family

Family dynamics are central to the start of each main character’s story. For Rahima, her family starts as whole and somewhat well but morphs into all seven of them being on completely separate planes, as Rahima, Parwin, and Shahla are married off, Madar and Padar are drug addicts, and Sitara and Rohila are left to fend for themselves. The change in their family dynamic happens when the three girls are married off, since that is when their mother loses hope for a different future for her daughters.

Rahima continues thinking about and worrying about her family for years after she is married off, as one’s family of origin determines a child’s fate. Rahima’s father wants to please Abdul Khaliq, and therefore gives the warlord and his two cousins his three daughters.

Shekiba’s family dynamics are similar to Rahima’s in that...