Alia, a 19-year-old from a village in Daykundi, Afghanistan, defied Taliban restrictions and traveled to Kabul to escape an arranged marriage. The Taliban has banned girls over 12 from formal education, forcing many into marriage. Alia enrolled in a private English course, one of the few educational avenues left for girls. Her family, initially supportive of her aspirations to become a pilot, now sees marriage as her only option due to the educational ban. Alia fears marrying into a restrictive family and losing her dreams, but remains determined to resist. Shama, another woman profiled, was forced into marriage at 18, abandoning her dream of becoming a doctor. Her mother felt compelled to marry her off due to societal pressure and fear of Taliban scrutiny. The United Nations warns that the continued ban could deprive over two million girls of education by 2030. The Taliban government's explanations for the ban have shifted, with officials offering evasive responses and pointing to internal leadership decisions.