It was Wednesday afternoon, 24th of August. I saw many new students on the campus talking, walking and laughing. Like always, AUAF students had just started the new semester with spirited faces. I was happy for the friendly environment of the new semester not realizing some students were breathing for the final day of their lives.
I was happy for the friendly environment of the new semester not realizing some students were breathing for the final day of their lives.
Farzana Bahadury
Everything was going well, and the last classes of that day had started. My friends and I had classes on the second floor of the Bayat Building. My friend, Elnaz, had been insisting on speaking more with us about her classes and many other things she liked to share. However, it was time to go to our classes so she finally said goodbye, but I replied, ”We will see each other in the break time or when we are done with our classes tonight”. Elnaz replied saying, ”Maybe”. Now that I think of her answer, she may have been inwardly aware that something would happen to her. Now we are witnesses of losing Elnaz and many other precious ones.
”We will see each other in the break time or when we are done with our classes tonight”. Elnaz replied saying, ”Maybe”. Now that I think of her answer, she may have been inwardly aware that something would happen to her.
Farzana Bahadury
Everyone left the corridors by the time classes started at 6:30 pm and joined their classrooms. In class, while the professor was explaining the main issues that students should consider during the semester, I suddenly heard the horrible sound of an explosion. At that same moment, all the glasses in the windows broke and scattered on the floor. No one was aware of what was happening, but everyone was sure of a disaster and all the students started running through the corridor. Not long after, we heard the sound of bullets. Massoud Hussaini, a student at AUAF and a photographer, shouted to go back to our classes and to turn off the lights. Everyone did what he said including myself. I was feeling hopeless since the terrorists, the Taliban specifically, were walking in the corridor and firing from small windows in the corridor into the classes continuously. Meanwhile, they were also throwing grenades into the classes making sure that no one was going to survive.
I was feeling hopeless since the terrorists, the Taliban specifically, were walking in the corridor and firing from small windows in the corridor into the classes continuously.
Farazana Bahadury
I hid under the desk. I called my brother from under the desk to inform him of how I was doing. It was a frightening news for him. He told me not to be afraid and encouraged to not lose hope. In return, I just asked him to pray for AUAF. Likewise, all my friends and relatives called me to ask about my health and I told them that I was still fine but there was no hope of surviving through the night. I could feel my death coming. Seeing others getting injured and not being able to do anything, except watching, is the worst feeling. I tasted the hardest moments of my life there and everyone had the same situation. When the Taliban got to our class to start firing, everyone started shouting and crying. Due to the students sounds, the Taliban realized that there were many living people in the class.
I could feel my death coming. Seeing others getting injured and not being able to do anything, except watching, is the worst feeling.
Farzana Bahadury
All my classmates had stayed in our class, until the moment the terrorists intended to enter. The terrorists were knocking, kicking, and firing while approaching the class. I eventually came out from under the desk and realized that everyone had thrown themselves down from the second-floor window. Only four others and I had remained. I also got up to the window to throw myself down. Just when I wanted to jump, I saw how high I was from the ground, I lost hope because I did not have the courage to jump – it was too high. The terrorists were nearly about to enter the class as they were doing their best to break down the classroom door. I thought to myself that I would be a dead body unless I jumped from the window. In both cases, death was perceptible. With that condition, I preferred not to die at the hand of terrorists. I turned my face, got ready to throw myself on the ground from the second floor. At that moment, I noticed another group of terrorists on the roof who threw grenades at us from above while I was trying to jump. I got on my hands and feet in my attempt to escape, but I still got injured. I became stronger when I knew the peak of their cruelty. I didn’t stop then. I threw myself down.
The terrorists were nearly about to enter the class as they were doing their best to break down the classroom door. I thought to myself that I would be a dead body unless I jumped from the window. In both cases, death was perceptible.
Farzana Bahadury
After a few minutes, when I got up, I found myself on air conditioner attached to the first floor, unable to remember anyone’s name and what had happened to me. I was caught in a dark night, around lots of injured and dead bodies around me on the grass. None of them could speak, and I could not remember why and where I was. I was hearing a sound in my ears that was hurting me and prevented me from making myself understood about what was going on. I had lost myself. I didn’t know what to do, nor for myself or others. I stayed there till until I realized other people were also throwing themselves down. Then, I stood up on the ground and a girl whom I had forgotten as my classmate came to me and fearfully said, ”We have to escape”.
I was caught in a dark night, around lots of injured and dead bodies around me on the grass. None of them could speak, and I could not remember why and where I was.
Farzana Bahadury
I understood I was in a very difficult situation and started to remember everything. I started running to ”C” building where I came across the body of a dead man on my way which made me freeze. My feelings at that time did not give me permission to run away from the body. Then, I saw a man running. He ran away but I was still standing there with the girl. Another boy came; he stopped when he saw us and showed us the exit way. Then, I started running again. On the way to emergency gate, I heard the frightening and the loud voices of the terrorists. My feet felt heavy, I couldn’t continue due to the fears I had but this time, many students reached us and we all went to the exit door together.
When all of us reached gate, the guards asked us to drink water and told us that we were out of danger. However, I thought the gate couldn’t be opened and had lost hope about everything. I didn’t trust anyone at that moment. I started crying because I thought the guards were pretending to help us but we were stuck. The guard tried to convince me that the gate was open and insisted on giving me water but I was pleading with him to open the door and let me go rather than giving water to me. He then opened the door and everyone got out of the campus. When we were out of the campus, everyone realized that there was no electricity and we didn’t know our way. We knocked on many doors on our way but none of the houses let us in as they were afraid. While we were running, we came across a kind man who led us to his home. There, when we sat down, all of us finally realized that we were injured. All the injured were my friends and we started helping each other trying to stop the bleeding injuries. We stayed at the man’s house until late at night when the Police eventually came and took us out of the home to our families waiting outside, and to hospitals.
I passed a very difficult night. Every second I was breathing and I could smell my death approaching. The night passed but it took my friend Elnaz, and many other students from us. Remembering that night brings me to tears, but I know I have to be stronger because of the precious lost souls watching us from the above. I want them to be sure that we are here not to give up but to be strong. Indeed, some day the terrorists have to pay for what we have lost that day.
The night passed but it took my friend Elnaz, and many other students from us. Remembering that night brings me to tears, but I know I have to be stronger because of the precious lost souls watching us from the above. I want them to be sure that we are here not to give up but to be strong. Indeed, some day the terrorists have to pay for what we have lost that day.
Farzana Bahadury
Author: Farzana Bahadury is AUAF Business graduate. Currently, she is Program Coordinator for the Afghan Women Welfare and Development Association (AWWDA).
Editor: Aysha Marjan Nayer
CHADARI 