In a village in Bamiyan province, there lived a woman named Nikbakht who had two sons, ages twenty and twenty-three.
Nikbakht had enough money to support herself, but having two other adults in the house was a strain on her budget and her time. Her sons ate her food and expected her to cook and clean for them. The two young men did not do any chores or contribute any money to the household, even though both had jobs. In short, they were mama’s boys.
Nikbakht grew tired of the situation. One day she realized she had had enough and that her sons should be living on their own. She told them over dinner.
“It is time for you two to take responsibility,” she said. “You can’t live with me anymore. I’m not going to cook for you. I’m not going to clean for you. You need to grow up and get your own house!”
The boys were very upset. They complained. “You are a terrible mom,” they told her. “How can you do this? We are your children. It is not fair.” They ranted for days. But Nikbakht did not budge.
“You have one month to find your own house,” she said. “No more whining. Just do it.”
The next day when the boys came to the kitchen for breakfast, they found no food had been prepared. Nikbakht refused to cook for them. “You have jobs,” she said. “Get your own food and make it yourself.”
The boys could not believe it.
The scene was repeated every day for weeks. The boys began to lose weight because they would not cook for themselves. Finally, on the twenty-eighth day, they went out to look for another place to live and found a two-room house for 4000 Afghanis a month. They signed a one-year lease and rushed home to tell their mother.
They were very excited because it was their first house. “We did it. We found a house, we will move in tomorrow,” they told their mother.
“Inshallah!” Nikbakht said. “I’m really proud of you. You are finally becoming independent.”
The next day, the two boys moved in. They began having parties at their house every night. They were very happy. Nikbakht was also happy because her boys were finally growing up and becoming successful.
Nikbakht pushed her sons to take control of their lives, and they did. This was a bold move for an Afghan woman. One day, I hope all women will be as strong and powerful and as good a mother to their children as Nikbakht.
By Amina
Photo by Phil Borges; graphics by Blatman Design
I love this story! I agree: may all women “be as strong and powerful and as good a mother to their children as Nikbakht”! Thank you for sharing this story with us, Amina!
All best,
Stacy
Dear Amina: What a wonderful story ,about women and men, mothers and children. You have told it so well. The message is very important for people in any culture.
I wish you happiness!
Heidi
Dear Amina,
You have a very special gift. You have wonderful insight and you share your ideas with style and warmth. There are many writers, but very few who can begin a story and then also finish it so beautifully the way you did. Please keep writing and sharing your stories.
Jacki
The plot of the story is good and realistic, but you add lots of fantasise, that makes an article more dramatic. It is a good effort by you, and Stacy told me that you are about 16, therefore am proud of you. Keep hardworking and writes as it is real avoid dramatic situation. Best of luck Amina.
How true it is that sometimes we can change a bad situation by changing our own behavior, like the mother in your story, when she changes the way she behaves (taking care of everything) the situation changes and the boys have to change their behavior. Thank you for sharing your story!
Dear Amina — I have read so many stories with sad endings that when I started reading your story I was afraid it would have such an ending too. How wonderful that it all worked out! Nikbakht is a great example of a strong woman who gave her sons “wings” by telling them she would no longer take care of them. She is an example for women everywhere! I hope you’ll keep writing for years to come. Best wishes, Nancy
Dear Amina.
I have read so many storie , but this storie ita absolutely an amazing storie. I love a woman who are given me a free life. I love my mum so much, and all mother in the world. Also Afghan woman are the powerful and always loook after her childs. how wondeful that it. Nikbakhta is great example of a woman , but i think all Afghna man and woman, their strong. i would like to say! mother all the time showing a good way to her childs i love to hear this storie . Thank u so nuch for share. I wish u all the best.
Thank you, Amina, for sharing this story. I love knowing that mothers across the globe want the same things for their children–independence, happiness, and a good life. Please keep writing!
Oh, how fun to read this, Amina! You have an exciting voice as a writer. I found myself rushing through the story, carried away by your enthusiasm, to find out how those two lazy “boys” would end up. Women everywhere too often do too much for their children. They do for their children out of love, and don’t realize how dependent their children become. Hooray for Nikbakht for realizing she needed to push them out of the nest so they could learn how to fly. You have told a universal story in a delightful way. I will look for more of your work.
Dear Amina,
After reading this, I learned a story of hope, of pride, and of bravery-you inspired me.
You believe that one day every women will be strong and powerful-I am sure that in the very soon future, that is how it will be. I do not find this story as a story of fiction and fantasy-I find it realistic, as when I read it, I could imagine exactly what happened through the vivid details your wrote.
🙂
Dear Amina,
The story is a bit dramatic yet realistic in a beautiful way. With simple descriptions, the plot is filled with vivid sceneries. I love the way you portray the image of Nikabakhta. The fact that Afghan women lack women rights made Nikabakhta’s action seem risky, yet powerful. The boys, however, also show their respect and follow the expectations. Amina, your story not only shows women’s role in a family but also symbolizes the dream Afghan women and me. And just as you stated in the story, I also hope that “all women will be strong and powerful and as good a mother to their children as Nikbakht”.