Pretty Flowers

Tahmina’s family owned a field with opium poppy. Tahmina was an expert with poppies even at the age of 12. She and her brother Zameer used opium plants to earn money. Being poor they were in debt of Mr. Najibullah for their purchase of basic needs of life. They grew opium to return their debt. One day when Tahmina and Zameer were harvesting opium, two bulldozers entered their yard to trample down the poppy plants as the police said that growing opium was illegal as people in Paris got addicted with it. Tahmina, Zameer and their mother made a chain of their hands in front of their field to save it from destruction bit it was all invariable, the bulldozer did not stopped moving and it destroyed the whole opium poppy field. Tahmina’s family hopes to live a debt free life and have a bright future have vanished with the destruction of their harvest. This was a big shock for the family. When their father returned the village he was told all that had happened. He went to his loaner and when returned back. He told Tahmina to accompany him the next day to meet Mr. Najibullah. Tahmina’s father sold her to Mr. Najibullah as he had failed to pay his debt. When Tahmina came to know this she tried to run but her father held her firmly and walked back to the house. Her father was very sorry for Tahmina and cried but Tahmina was calm as she thought her sacrifice would get rid her family of the debt they owed.

The Interlopers

The story The Interlopers mainly revolves around two main characters named Ulrich von Gradwitz and Georg Znaeym. Ever since they were boys, they have fought over who owned the land, which is in the middle of their lands, as their grandfathers did for years. One evening both characters try to hunt each other down and they meet face to face alone, just then lighting strikes and a tree falls over both men. Since they were both under the tree trunk, they start to argue with each other and whose men will come first to the save them. Ulrich then takes his wine out of his pocket and drinks wine and offers Georg some as well but Georg refuses and tells him he doesn't drink with his enemies. After a while Ulrich asks Georg to forget their quarrel as it seems that they both are going to die, and they should die on good terms and asks for his friendship. Georg agrees after a long time and they both join their voices and scream for help, yelling as louder as possible, hoping their men will hear their voices. Suddenly, they see figures coming from the woods; hoping it’s their men but then they realize it’s just a pack of wolves.