The Faith of Laila
Inspired by Khaled Hosseini's novel: A Thousand Splendid Suns
Laila lived under the wings of her parents in Kabul, taking pleasure in the simple joys of life, but little did she know that her life was about to take a tumultuous turn. One fateful day, her house was bombed killing both her parents and leaving her alone in the ruins of her childhood home. Severely injured, she found herself nursed back to health by a neighbour, Rasheed, and his wife, Mariam. As days passed, Rasheed's intentions became evident. In the war-torn patriarchal society, Laila was coerced into a marriage she never wanted, and thus, began her life of hardship in a loveless marriage.
Mariam, older and scarred by her past, initially resented Laila but the shared experiences of their lives under Rasheed's oppressive regime gradually forged a bond between them. Laila, who was salient all this while, felt a certain strength in Mariam’s presence. She allowed herself to hope, to give birth to a new faith.
Zalmai, the son she bore to Rasheed, was a beacon of light in her life. Yet, her heart yearned for her true love, Tariq, who she believed had been killed in the war.
One day, when all hope seemed lost, Tariq appeared. Laila's happiness was short-lived as Rasheed discovered them and in a fit of rage tried to strangle her. Laila's faith and the bond she shared with Mariam proved to be stronger than Rasheed's brutality. Together, they fought back, leading to Mariam killing Rasheed.
The tale ends with Laila and her children, Aziza and Zalmai, starting a new life with Tariq. The faith she had clung onto during her darkest days had finally paid off, providing her with the life she thought she'd lost forever. But she would forever remember Mariam, the woman who had been her unexpected savior.
Inspired by Khaled Hosseini's heart-wrenching novel, this story brings forth the undying faith and resilience in the face of adversity, told through the journey of an ordinary woman, Laila.