Love Marriage in Kabul (ATOM Study Guide)

Mahboba Rawi is a strong-willed Afghan–Australian woman who has dedicated her life to help orphans in Afghanistan. She is the founder of Mahboba's Promise and a mother figure for thousands of orphans and widows currently supported by her programs.

Abdul, one of these orphans, is in love with Fatemeh, the girl next door. The two have been exchanging romantic letters for almost a year and hope to marry each other one day. But Fatemeh's father has other plans – he has decided to marry her off to anyone who can offer a large sum of money as her dowry. Devastated, Abdul is hoping when Mahboba arrives for her yearly trip to Kabul that she will help him again.

When Mahboba hears the story, she is very concerned about Abdul, and Fatemeh's possible fate in a forced marriage. She is determined to make the marriage happen between Abdul and Fatemeh. However, the demands that Fatemeh's father makes are beyond anyone's expectations. He won't let the marriage take place unless Mahboba pays him $10,000 or finds a wife for his eldest son, who can then replace Fatemeh in taking care of the household. With nothing to Abdul's name, the fate of the couple depends entirely on Mahboba's ability to meet or negotiate the father's terms. But Mahboba only has one month and limited resources.

Curriculum Links

Love Marriage in Kabul can be linked to the subject areas of History, Geography and English.