Nasrat Esmaty

Blue Blood Mirage: on the Other Side of Illusion Nasrat Esmaty

Life for Faryal and her family is far from uncomplicated. Upon their return to Afghanistan from Jordan, her father learns that he is no longer welcomed by his own government and that his cousins have stolen his property-and by extension, his future. But salvation seems to be at hand when Romaan, the son of a wealthy and powerful family, asks that Faryal be granted to him in marriage. On what should have been a joyous day, Faryal is kidnapped by Sardar, a powerful and dangerous man. Her fiancé's family quickly agrees to pay the million dollars Sardar demands, but that is of little consolation for Faryal. Fearing more for her chastity than for her life, she makes a frantic choice. But even death cannot save her; her attempt at suicide fails. Desperate, she begs her kidnapper, a middle-aged man with two children, to marry her, to salvage what little honor she may still have. Devastated by her betrayal, Jalal tries to stop her marriage to the criminal, but his plans are thwarted. He must learn that even men can be pawns in the same game. When the upper class sets standards, everyone must abide by them. They see everything perfect and build a mirage in their outlooks, mentalities, and approaches, which makes life more difficult than it already is. Afghan women have suffered for a million reasons that have not been their intrinsic fault. This novel, inspired by true events, is an exploration on the cultural injustices done to women.