Shabanu: Marrying Rahim-sahib

My name is Shabanu and I am 12 years old. I live in Pakistan with Dadi, Mama, Phulan, Auntie, Sher Dil, and our caravan of camels. I have been waiting for a couple of years now to marry Murad. But then everything went wrong. The landlord whose name is Nazir Mohammad killed Hamir who was going to be Phulan’s husband. How Phulan gets to marry Murad who was supposed to be my husband and now I have to marry Nazir’s brother. He is 55 years old and already has three wives. On page 191 I say “He’s old enough to be my grandfather”. Of course I don’t want to marry him and he’s married to three other women, why does he want to marry me? It’s gross this person could be my grandfather and now I have to live with him and his other wives for the rest of my life! All I want is to be free like Sharma!

 

This is a drawing of Shabanu. She’s is marrying Nazir Mohammad’s brother Rahim-sahib. She lives in Pakistan. Her goal is to one day be free like Sharma her moms cousin. Her family members are Mama, Dadi, Phulan (her sister), Auntie, Sher Dil (the dog), and her families caravan of camels.