Chapter 2

In a small town in Afghanistan, gunshots can be heard, the Taliban after receiving their new weapons a few months ago decided to put their superior weapons to the test in open combat with the Afghanistan government.

“I don’t think I can do this,” Esin blurted out to the camera crew. “They’ll kill me if they find out I do this.” To punctuate her words, there was several more rapid bursts of gun fire causing her to flinch more.

Her children, all three of them sat in a cot with her, the oldest of them, a girl of 13 years coughed severely, Esin quickly gave her water to drink. They were the picture of dejection.

“I’m sorry ma’am but we have to shoot this and fast.” The cameraman said. He was a tall black man with dreadlocks, his name was Leon.

“I knew it. You Americans don’t care about us at all,” Esin said. “You just want your ratings.”

“Ma’am, you agreed to this interview with us.” Leon said in an annoyed tone. Just like the woman he didn’t enjoy being here, especially when all it took was one stray bullet to put end to someone’s hopes and dreams.

“I’m regretting that.” Esin said, as she removed the cup from her sick daughter’s mouth and whispered sweet words to her. She adjusted her hijab slightly.

Leon began mouthing off as he went to the other room that served as a kitchen for Esin and her three daughters.

“Where’s Angela? She’s the only one that get through to this woman.” Leon said.

The other members of his crew, Sam the sound guy and Lana who handled the electronics and broadcasting, both were in their early 20s and  were hard at work prepping their  gear. The insignia of the News company they worked for, Solidarity news blazes their vests.

“Don’t know. She said she had to pee or something,” Sam said, waving his hands dismissively. “Just relax. If we panic, things will get worse.”

“We’re in a war torn country and you expect me to relax?” Leon flared. “Honestly Sam, you piss me off.”

“Hey, knock it off,” Lana quickly interjected. “I know you’re under a lot of pressure but the last thing we need is a fight.”

“Fine. Just find Angela.”

Angela, the news reporter who has found Esin for Solidarity news was trying to stay alive. She had stayed out for too long looking for a pharmacy and the Taliban were operating in her area, they were engaged in battle against the joint armies of the United States and Afghanistan.

She hid behind destroyed buildings with bullet ridden holes in their walls and tried to avoid being seen.

The fighting was getting closer to her.

“Gotta find a way around them.” Angela said to herself. She clutched the medicine she was holding tighter as she left her hiding place.

She hid behind what used to be shop, judging from what was left, it was a toyshop now reduced to rubble.

“Damn you, Drake.” She whispered.

She stood at the wall for too long, a steady burst of bullets hit the portion above her and she dived to the ground, using her hands to cover her Burnette hair as tiny bit of rubble fell on her.

“Please go away. Please go away.” She wished deeply and as luck would have it, the shooting stopped and the sounds of violence became distant.

She ran towards Esin’s house.

“Where’s Angela? I want to talk with Angela,” Esin cried hysterically. “I want to leave here. I don’t want my children to die.”

“Ma’am, I understand that but it isn’t safe now,” Sam explained to her as he adjusted the microphone pinned to her hijab. “We have to wait for the fighting to die now.”

“It’s not a fight. It’s a massacre.”

Sam turned to Leon for help who simply shook his in frustration, he was tired of being cooped up in this two room house. His claustrophobia was setting in.

“I can’t stay in tight place.” Leon whispered, closing his eyes

“Where’s Angela? I knew it was a bad idea for us to turn off our phones.” He finished.

“Leon, I know you are scared but your anxiety is just gonna scare the woman more.” Sam explained, making his voice as calm as possible, even he was starting to give in to the fear of being killed soon.

Another burst of bullets rang through the air, they came in regular intervals that they  was starting to feel like clock work.

“I can’t take this man.” Leon said, he walked towards the front door and began squeeze the handle softly.

“Don’t do it.” Sam and Lana said in union.

The children, weak and fatigued from lack of sleep and hunger just stared at the cameraman, unable to do anything as a result of malnutrition.

The door opened on its own and in came the welcomed sight of Angela.

“Sorry that I’m late.” She apologized.

“Where have you been?” Leon growled as he pulled her inside.

“Getting this.” Angela said softly, she walked towards Esin.

“Esin, I got this for your daughter.”

Tears of appreciation ran down the woman’s eyes.

“Thank you. These must have cost a fortune.” She said.

“Not really. The pharmacist was eager to sell and run away.” Angela said, trying to downplay the situation. “Now, if you’re ready. Let’s get started on your interview.”

“Your hair.” Lana called out quick as she began to dust off the sand from Angela’s hair.

“Thank you.” Angela said.

“Alright, let get this started.”

“We’re live in 1..2..3.” Leon said as he made the appropriate hand motions.

“Are you ready?” Angela asked Esin.

Esin shook her head.

“Esin, what does your name mean?” Angela asked.

“Inspiration. It’s ironic.” Esin laughed dryly.

“No. It not,” Angela insisted. “By telling your story. You’ll be able to inspire action. Action that might save your country.”

Esin could feel the soft confidence radiating from Angela, she actually believed everything she had just said.

“Ok. I’m really.”

“Good afternoon everyone. This is Angela Matters reporting for Solidarity news,” Angela said to the camera. “And with me is Esin, a former tailor.”

“Hello.” Esin said shyly.

Angela nodded to encourage her.

“Ever since the Taliban bought guns from the now infamous Caliber technologies. You’ve had an increase in gun violence. How do you feel about that.”

“I honestly don’t know to feel,” Esin said softly. “Sometimes I feel like digging a hole to die in.”

“It’s been a rough few months but I can’t give up,” Esin said. “My children still need me.”

At that moment, as if on cue the three daughters including the sick one ran into the camera letting the whole world see their emancipated bodies.

“I’m all they have and they are all I have.”

“That’s inspiring and I’m happy your children are blessed with a mother like you,” Angela said. “The whole world wants to know what is it like living in Afghanistan right now.”

“Speaking of children,” Angela said, she took a deep breath as she regretted the next question she was going to ask. “What happened to their father.”

“He was shot while trying to steal food from some Taliban soldiers. They brought his body to me to bury.” The tears were flowing freely now. Leon handed Angela a handkerchief and she gave it to Esin to wiped her tears.

“Thank you.” She said as she readied herself for the next stuffering she was about to describe.

“It’s hard to come by food and medicine. Everybody is afraid, no one wants to sell cheaply,” She said. “I stay up at night listening to my first daughter to cough and their stomachs grumble.”

“It’s like a hell on Earth but we survive. We still come out to engage in trade but when the guns starts firing,” Esin recounted grimly. “We scatter to the winds.”

The camera zoomed In on Esin’s vulnerable face.

“The Taliban doesn’t bother us as long as we pay them. They tell us they’re trying to liberate us.”

“But I think it’s been harder for tailors. I don’t get much customers. The soldiers sometimes pity me and give me their clothes to mend but it isn’t enough.”

A single drop of tear fell from her exhausted face.

Angela promptly reached out to stroke her hand, she held them reassuring in hers.

“We’re almost finished.” Angela whispered to her.

Esin nodded.

“What would you like the world powers to do?”

“I wish they stopped focus on arming us and instead think of ways to take us away from the fighting.” Esin said calmly.

“And what about Caliber technologies and their CEO, Drake Griffin.”

“I’ve longed stopped cursing his name,” Esin admitted. “I just wish he tried to do something to help us.”

A phone hummed.

“I thought we agreed to switch off our phones until we were done.” Leon asked  Lana as he looked away from his camera, Lana simply shrugged him off.

“I needed to be in touch with the helicopter.”

“Is he coming soon?”

“No. Its not him,” Lana’s eyes widened in surprise. She yelled to Angela. “You need to see this.”

She gave the phone to Angela who couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw what was on it.

“Esin,” She said with joy in her voice. “Someone managed to pull some strings and the American government is offering you a visa.”

Esin mouth opened in utter amazement not believing what she was hearing.

“And that’s not all, they are offering to pay for your housing and your children’s education.”

Angela turned to the camera with a beaming smile.

 

“Ladies and gentlemen, looks like there’s gonna be a happy ending to this story.”

“So I can leave right now?” Esin asked.

“Yes Esin,” Angela said and pulled the woman and children into a big hug. “Everything will be alright.”

Gunshots could be heard again but this time Esin didn’t feel any fear of them anymore. She was starting over in a new life.