Sayeba, right, and Gufran, left, quench their thirst from a stream flowing from the mountains. When trekking into the mountains, they often do not carry backpacks or water bottles when they know there is a possible water resource. This image from an ongoing story called "The Mountain Girls of Kargil" is a photo essay that bears witness to a story about the courage to explore one's identity in the face of societal constraints and the roles she must take on within her culture. These societal constraints include gender norms, limited educational opportunities, and cultural expectations that often restrict women's freedom and potential. This story illuminates the profound strength found in quiet acts of defiance.