The Names We Were Told to Hide
On women’s names, shame, and Afghanistan
Hasina’s Substack
My personal Substack
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Latest posts
Even If It Is Forbidden, Spring Arrives
A reflection on Nawruz, a spring New Year, and the quiet ways we hold onto meaning in exile
An Unexpected Conversation with a Bookseller
A memory from Islamabad
I Have Been Here Before: Notes from the Torkham Border (Part II)
Continuing a journey between Afghanistan and Pakistan
I Have Been Here Before: Notes from the Torkham Border
On crossing, memory, and surviving what should be ordinary
When Time for Art is Stolen by the Cost of Living
A reflection on making art while surviving, and the quiet toll it takes.
Not Just Another Day: Small Joys in Exile, Islamabad, Pakistan
A deeply personal account of stepping outside after weeks in limbo, navigating bureaucracy, unexpected kindness, and the quiet power of Afghan women holding onto dreams in unfamiliar cities.
The Day I Found Wabi Sabi (But Didn’t Take It Home)
It was early October last year.
Lapis Earrings and the Afghan I Never Knew
In exile, even the smallest gestures can hold a world of meaning.
An Afghan Girl in Exile: Between Borders, Fear, and Resistance
As an Afghan refugee living in Pakistan, I find myself sitting in a small café in Islamabad, watching the world pass by as I try to hide the storm inside me.