Emal and Malalai

Written by: Abdullah Fazli

Emal was Malalai's brother and they were living in a green village far from the city.One day Malalai took Emal with herself to help her in bringing water from the village hand water pump. When they reached there, a crowd of boys and girls were waiting for their turn. Emal worried and wanted to go to play with his friends and he asked Malalai to take his buckets home too. Malalai said that there is only one hand pump in the whole village and asked Emal to wait for his turn and she added that she is smaller than him and she could not take his heavy buckets.

Emal’s turn arrived. He asked Malalai to take the bucket under the pump. Malalai accepted but when the bucked filled with water and she wanted to move it aside, the bucket dropped on the ground and all the water flew uselessly. Emal became angry and he slapped Malalai. Malalai cried and then they took the buckets to their home. Emal came back to the village ground where his friends, Hameed and Waheed were waiting for him. Emal saw that Malalai was also playing with Hameed’s sister.

Emal got angry with her and he sent her back home. Hameed condemned Emal's attitude toward Malalai. When they started playing, Hameed heard her sister was crying. Hameed wanted to go and asked the reason but Emal asked him to not care about his sister. Hameed did not accept and went toward his sister. He saw that her sister's leg was injured. He took her on his back to their home.

The next day, Emal and Malalai went to collect thorn and brushwood. Emal collected enough thorn and brushwood Malalai was still collecting thorns. Emal said to Malalai that he is hungry and wants to go home. He was trying to take his load on his back, but he could not. Malalai wanted to help him but he denied.

When Emal wanted to take the load on his back, he fell on the ground and injured his hand. Malalai cut off a piece of her shawl and dressed Emal’s wound with it and she helped him going home.

Emal was regretted and wanted Malalai's excuse and after that day, they were playing together and they were very happy.