5-year-old Mariam breaking a piece from her mother Nana's Chinese tea set. As a result, Nana calls Mariam a "harami," which means bastard, highlighting her illegitimacy. Nana explains to Mariam that being a harami means she is an unwanted and illegitimate person who will never have the same rights and privileges as others, such as love, family, home, and acceptance.
In contrast to Nana, Mariam's father, Jalil, visits her on Thursdays and calls her "his little flower." He makes Mariam feel wanted and shares stories with her about Queen Gauhar Shad and the poet Jami. Mariam admires Jalil for his knowledge and enjoys spending time with him, even though she has to share him with his three wives and ten legitimate children. Nana, however, is scornful of Jalil and warns Mariam not to believe anything he says, as he cast them aside like they were nothing to him.
Mariam lives near Herat, Jalil's town, but she has never been there. Jalil owns a cinema, three carpet stores, and a clothing shop in Herat. Nana used to work as one of his housekeepers, but after her affair with Jalil, she was thrown out. Mariam's own father, a stone carver, disowned her and fled to Iran. Jalil arranged for Nana to be sent to a kolba, claiming that she forced herself on him. Nana, bitter about her situation, warns Mariam that women are often blamed for men's actions.
Mariam and Nana live in a clearing on the outskirts of Gul Daman, near Nana's father's village. Nana refers to the kolba that Jalil built to atone for his crimes as a "rathole," indicating her disdain for it.
Nana tells Mariam a story from her past when she was 15 years old and engaged to a young parakeet seller. However, a jinn, an evil spirit in Islamic cultures, possessed Nana's body a week before the wedding. Nana experienced a fit, collapsing and frothing at the mouth while her body became rigid. This scared the suitor's superstitious family, causing them to call off the wedding. After this incident, Nana had no more suitors.
There are conflicting narratives about Mariam's birth, with Nana claiming that she gave birth to Mariam alone on the kitchen floor and had to cut the cord with a knife. On the other hand, Jalil insists that he made sure Nana gave birth in a hospital. EvenMariam's name, Mariam, has two different explanations. Nana says it is her mother's name, while Jalil pronounces it as the name of a beautiful flower, the tuberose. When Mariam asks if the tuberose is Jalil's favorite flower, his response indicates his conflicting loyalties.
Once a month, Mariam's half-brothers visit with provisions, but Nana greets them with rocks and insults. Despite her loyalty to her mother, Mariam feels sorry for the boys and offers them water.
Nana and Mariam lead a generally solitary life, but there are a few select visitors tolerated by Nana. These include Habib Khan, the leader of Gul Daman, Bibi jo, the wife of a stone carver who was a friend of Nana's father, and Mullah Faizullah, an elderly village Koran tutor who is Mariam's favorite. Mullah Faizullah comes to teach Mariam how to pray and read from the Koran.He also shares religious stories with Mariam, some of which have fantastical elements, such as finding the words "Allah" and "Akbar" when he carved open a watermelon outside the Blue Mosque.
Mariam begins to trust Mullah Faizullah and confides in him about her desire to go to school and receive an education like Jalil's legitimate daughters, who attend the Mehri School for Girls in Herat. Mullah Faizullah promises to speak with Nana about it, but Nana believes that Mariam will only be disappointed because she thinks the only skill a woman needs in life is to endure(tahamul). Furthermore, Nana is concerned that Mariam will be teased and ridiculed at school due to her illegitimate status.
Mariam eagerly anticipates Jalil's visits and is filled with anxiety that something might prevent him from coming on Thursdays. When Jalil does arrive, Mariam must restrain her excitement due to Nana's watchful eyes, but she can't help running into his arms and being playfully tossed in the air by him.
Despite Nana's negative remarks about Jalil behind his back, she presents herself well and behaves in a subdued and mannerly manner during his visits. Mariam and Jalil go fishing together, and he reads her articles from Herat's newspaper. Mariam catches a glimpse of the wider world through these interactions, learning about museums, soccer, and even rockets orbiting the Earth. She feels that Jalil brings a piece of the world to the kolba with him every Thursday.
After Jalil's visits, Mariam deeply misses him and daydreams about living in his house as his legitimate daughter. She contemplates theidea of revealing the truth to him one day.
As Mariam approaches her fifteenth birthday in the spring of 1974, she wishes for a special birthday present from her father - to be taken to see a cartoon at his cinema. Initially, Jalil tries to avoid fulfilling her request by offering an alternative gift, but eventually agrees reluctantly.
Nana is deeply worried about Mariam abandoning her and expresses her concerns, but Mariam resents her mother for attempting to shelter her. Mariam feels that Nana is afraid she might find happiness, something her mother never experienced.
On the day of the planned outing, Mariam waits at the stream, the agreed meeting point, but Jalil doesn't show up. Assuming something urgent has come up, Mariam heads to Herat on her own and feels a sense of ordinary freedom there.
Mariam locates Jalil's house and is greeted by the chauffeur, who informs her that Jalil has been called away for urgent business. The chauffeur offers to take her home, but Mariam refuses and spends the night outside the house, observing what transpires inside. Someone brings her food, and in the morning, the chauffeur wakes her up and
insists she should leave because she has caused a scene. Mariam insists on waiting for Jalil, but the chauffeur informs her that Jalil has ordered her to be taken home.
Mariam escapes from the chauffeur's grip and enters Jalil's garden through the front gates. She kicks and screams, but eventually, the chauffeur manages to force her into the car. Mariam contemplates how she will tell Nana that she was right all along, but when she returns home, she discovers that Nana has hanged herself from a weeping willow tree.
After Nana's burial in a corner of the cemetery in Gul Daman, Jamil takes on a show of taking care of Mariam. However, Mariam remains rigid and resentful toward him. She only cries when Mullah Faizullah visits and blames herself, remembering Nana's words about dying if Mariam leaves.
Jalil offers Mariam the option to stay with him for the first time. Mariam now hears him with Nana's ears and recognizes the insincerity and false assurances that had always been present. Mariam installs herself in the guest room of Jalil's lavish house, the same house she had longed to be in just two days earlier. Despite Mullah Faizullah's attempts to reassure her, Mariam feels an indescribable blackness inside her, knowing that her mother'sactions were the result of long-standing unhappiness.
One of Jalil's wives visits Mariam in her room and informs her that she needs to come downstairs so they can have a conversation with her.
Mariam is summoned downstairs to meet her father and his three wives. They greet her with thin, tolerant smiles and announce that she has been betrothed to a 45-year-old widowed shoemaker named Rasheed from Kabul. Mariam pleads with Jalil not to do this to her, but it is the will of his wives who feel disgraced by Mariam's birth and believe that marrying her off will erase the scandalous mistake Jalil made. Rasheed is already on his way to marry her.
Mariam is repulsed by the idea of being married to a man she doesn't
know and performing household chores for him, as well as the painful acts of perversity that Nana had warned her about. She pleads with Jalil again, but he becomes defensive and tells her not to do this to him. She is then escorted back to her room, and the door is locked behind her.
The following day, Mariam is forced to greet Rasheed, who appears tall and broad-bellied, stooping in the doorway. She can barely look at him, and an unfamiliar mullah explains that the marriage ceremony, the nikka, will be expedited to accommodate Rasheed's bus tickets. The mullah asks Mariam three times if she wishes to marry Rasheed. On the third time, after glancing at her father, Mariam reluctantly says that she wants to be married.
Mariam finds Rasheed repulsive, as he reeks of tobacco and has yellow-brown nails resembling the inside of a rotting apple. The next day, while Rasheed waits for a bus bound for Kabul, Jalil accompanies Mariam and tells her about the wonders of Kabul. Mariam, filled with anger, imagines how Jalil would walk alongside the bus unscathed and expresses her disillusionment with him. When Jalil expresses guilt and promises to visit her in Kabul, Mariam implores him not to bother, feeling the weight of being sacrificed to save her father's honor.
Mariam arrives at Rasheed's fading blue house on a narrow, unpaved road in the early evening. She struggles to understand Rasheed due to his dialect of Farsi, which is different from what she is accustomed to. Upon entering the house, Mariam feels overwhelmed by a sense of unfamiliarity and experiences longing for her old life, yearning for Nana,Mullah Faizullah, and the familiarity she left behind. Rasheed tells Mariam that he prefers to sleep alone and offers her the guest room, where he has planted tuberoses on the windowsill. In a slyly playful manner, he asks if she fears him, to which she responds negatively. He leaves her in the room, closing the door behind her, leaving Mariam alone with her suitcase and the tuberoses.
During the first few days, Mariam hardly leaves her room, waiting for Rasheed to leave the house before exploring her new surroundings. She reflects on her old life with nostalgia, remembering moments spent with Nana on the kolba's roof during hot summer nights and her lessons with Mullah Faizullah. However, as the sun moves westward, Mariam's anxiety intensifies as she contemplates Rasheed's potential sexual advances. When Rasheed returns home, he tells her about his day and then leaves. One night, he notices that Mariam has yet to unpack her suitcase and confronts her, demanding that she begin behaving like a wife and not treat him like a hotel-keeper. He scolds her for crying.
The next morning, Mariam finally unpacks her belongings and begins to clean the house, drawing water from the well and making bread the way Nana had taught her. She then heads to the communal tandoor, joining a group of women who are complaining about their husbands. Mariam is approached by a woman named Fariba, who recognizes her as Rasheed's young bride and invites her for tea. Mariam feels overwhelmed by the attention and ends up getting lost on her own street. She becomes nauseous and vomits against a wall. Later, she prepares daal for her husband, which he appreciates.
However, Rasheed returns home carrying a brown paper bag from which he takes out a sky-blue burqa. He criticizes husbands who allow their wives to be exposed, showing no concern for their family's honor. He mentions Fariba and her husband Hakim, a schoolteacher, as examples of disapproval. Rasheed proclaims himself to be a tougher man, asserting that a woman's face is her husband's business alone. He threatens that he would spill blood with a single wrong word or improper look.
Mariam is introduced to wearing a burqa and needs Rasheed's assistance to put it on. The padded headpiece feels tight and heavy on her skull, and the mesh screen restricts her peripheral vision. Mariam dislikes the suffocating feeling of the pleated cloth pressingagainst her mouth. She practices wearing the burqa in her room and realizes that
her movements are limited. Rasheed assures her that she will get used to it and might even come to like it.
When Rasheed takes Mariam out to Shar-e-Nau Park, she occasionally trips on the hem of the burqa and finds it strange to lift the burqa in order to eat. However, she appreciates the anonymity it provides, shielding her from the prying eyes of strangers. Mariam no longer worries that people can see her shameful past with a single glance.
During their outing, Rasheed buys Mariam her first ice cream, and they walk around wealthier neighborhoods. Mariam notices the contrast between the "modern" women who walk without head coverings and makeup and the women in her own impoverished neighborhood, Deh-Mazang, who wear burqas. Rasheed purchases a maroon shawl for Mariam, and she appreciates it as a genuine gift, unlike the tokens of penance given to her by her father.
That night, Rasheed consummates the marriage with Mariam. She experiences sudden and astonishing pain, and Rasheed reassures her that there is no shame in what they have done since they are married.
During the fall of 1974, Mariam observes how Ramadan transforms Kabul, with the entire city observing the fast. Mariam breaks her fast each night with bread and a date, savoring the sweetness of sharing in this communal experience.
When Eid-ul-Fitr arrives, there is a festive atmosphere. Mariam and Rasheed take to the streets and immerse themselves in the liveliness of the celebrations. They encounter Fariba, her sons, and her shy-looking husband, whom Rasheed disapproves of. Rasheed warns Mariam to stay away from them. While watching fireworks at Chaman, Mariam wishes she could show Nana that containment and beauty are attainable, even for people like them.
Upon returning home, Rasheed has visitors, and Mariam goes to her room, flattered that Rasheed is protective of her honor. On the third day of Eid, while cleaning, Mariam enters Rasheed's room and discovers a gun and a pornographic magazine in a drawer. She contemplates who these women are and how they relate to Rasheed's talk of honor and propriety. Mariam comes to the understanding that Rasheed is a man
and cannot be faulted for being the way God made him. In another drawer, she finds a picture of Rasheed's former wife and son, where Rasheed seems dominant and his wife appears unsettled. Mariam feelscompassion for Rasheed, realizing that they both have experienced loss.
Mariam becomes pregnant, and Rasheed eagerly anticipates the arrival of a son. He even purchases a suede winter coat for the unborn child. Rasheed, scarred by the loss of his first son, Yunus, becomes overly cautious about potential accidents in the house.
Mariam is thrilled about her pregnancy and the prospect of having a home and family of her own. She loves her unborn child deeply, feeling that her love for it surpasses any she has ever felt before. However, tragedy strikes when Mariam miscarries while at the hamam(bathhouse). She mourns the loss of her child and gazes at the snow outside, recalling Nana's theory about each snowflake representing the sigh of an aggrieved woman, a reminderthat women like them endure suffering silently. Mariam reflects on the quiet strength and endurance of women in the face of adversity.
Mariam is overwhelmed by grief, deeply missing the child she never got to see. She avoids going outside, feeling envious of other women in the neighborhood who have children. The guilt from Nana's death resurfaces, and Mariam wonders if she is being punished for neglecting her mother. She even considers blaming Rasheed and God for taunting her with the promise of happiness. Rasheed himself is depressed and irritable, hardly speaking anymore. In her private mourning, Mariam organizes a funeral for the baby, burying the suede coat Rasheed had bought.
On the day of the murder of a communist named Mir Akbar Khyber in
April 1978, Mariam and Rasheed are at home, listening to the radio as thousands of people flood the streets of Kabul in protest. Rasheed treats Mariam with contempt, insulting and belittling her without making eye contact. Despite enduring the ridicule and insults, Mariam tolerates them because she fears Rasheed's volatile temper and violent tendencies. Rasheed is frustrated with Mariam because they have experienced six more miscarriages since the incident at the bathhouse, causing a constant cycle of hope and disappointment.
When Rasheed returns home at night, Mariam anxiously wonders what excuse he will find to unleash his anger on her. She realizes that nothing she does can bring back their lost son, making her feel like a burden to Rasheed. On the night of April 27th, Rasheed sadistically punishes Mariam for her "bad" rice by forcing her to chew pebbles until two of her molars break. He cruelly tells her thatshe has only given him bad food in their marriage.
That night, there are military planes flying overhead, signaling a change in the political regime. Daoud Khan, the previous ruler, is executed, and the Communist Party, which has ties to the Soviet Union, comes to power. Meanwhile, down the street, Fariba gives birth to a baby girl named Laila, whose name means "Night Beauty."
Laila, now 9 years old, is the daughter of Fariba and Hakim. Her two older brothers have joined the Mujahideen's army, and her parents' once-happy marriage has become strained. Laila is described as very pretty, with blonde curls and turquoise eyes. Her father, a former high-school teacher, hopes she will pursue an education and believes that marriage can wait, unlike the fathers of her friends. Laila's school-teacher, Shanzai, is progressive and does not enforce the girls to cover their heads in her classroom. Laila is called "Inquilabi girl" by Shanzai because she was born on the night of the Communist Revolution. She is close friends with Tariq, a neighborhood boy who lost one leg due to a landmine explosion. Tariq is going away with his parents to visit a sick uncle, and Laila deeply misses him, feeling the passage of time depending on his presence or absence. She notices a car with a Herat number plate parked near Rasheed's house but remembers her father's advice not to meddle in their neighbors' business. The chapter ends with
Laila walking home alone and suddenly facing the barrel of a gun.
The gun turns out to be a water gun held by Khadim, another neighborhood boy. Khadim taunts Laila, calling her "Yellow Hair" and expressing his desire to marry her. They exchange insults about each other's families, with Khadim mocking Laila's "loony" mother and "sissy" father. Khadim squirts warm liquid at Laila, which turns out to be urine, leaving her disgusted. Laila washes her hair and feels resentful towards her mother, who is having one of her bad days. On her good days, the neighborhood women gather at Fariba's house to enjoy her baking and listen to her talk about her beloved sons who are away in the conflict. On bad days, like the one described, Fariba isolates herself in her room.
When Tariq finally returns, Laila is invited to his family's home for lunch. She enjoys the warm and welcoming atmosphere, which contrasts with the tension in her ownfamily. Laila and Tariq go upstairs to play cards, and she reminisces about the time when Tariq first showed her his amputation stump and she cried. Now, when Laila expresses how much she missed him, Tariq is embarrassed by her "show of friendship" but secretly pleased. Later, Laila tells Tariq about Khalid's mistreatment of her, and Tariq confronts him in a way that no one in Laila's family would be capable of. Laila returns home and has dinner with her father. Hakim tells her that under the Communists and their egalitarian ideals, women like her have a good opportunity for a university education. The chapter reveals that the resistance against the Communists is primarily taking place in the provinces, mainly in the tribal areas on the border with Pakistan. This resistance opposes the Communist ideal of equality and seeks to maintain chauvinistic traditions that repress women. Hakim prophetically tells Laila, "The only enemy an Afghan cannot defeat is himself." When a stranger knocks on the door and asks to speak with her parents, Laila answers the door.
A stranger arrives and delivers the news of Laila's two brothers' deaths. Both of her parents are devastated, but her mother, Fariba, expresses her grief more openly. Laila tries to help her mother, longing to be close to her, but the neighborhood women at the funeral shoo her away, as if it's their responsibility to assist Fariba. Mariam, dressed in a hijab, attends the funeral as well.
Since Laila's brothers are much older and she doesn't have vivid memories of them, she struggles to truly feel the loss. She finds it difficult to summon sorrow and grieve for people she never really thought of as alive. Ahmad and Noor were like legends to her. However, she feels a deep connection to Tariq, who is alive and present in her heart. As Laila sits beside her mother, mourning her brothers dutifully, her true brother, Tariq, remains vividly alive within her.
During this period of mourning, Fariba becomes increasingly absent-minded, leaving Laila to shoulder most of the household chores. Fariba's conversations revolve around eulogizing her lost sons, and Laila feels that her own future can never measure up to her brothers' past. Fariba expresses a longing for a relieving death, but Laila takes precautions to ensure her safety, even emptying a bottle of aspirin to minimize any risk. Fariba states that she will stay alive becauseshe wants to witness the day when the Soviets leave and the Mujahideen return to Kabul in triumph. She believes that this event will vindicate her sons' deaths.
Laila, Tariq, and Hakim embark on a day trip to Shahr-e-Zohak, the Red City, a fortress destroyed by Genghis Khan. The Red City impresses them with its grandeur, including two enormous Buddhas, a cliff, and numerous caves. They climb the statues, gaining a sense of perspective and peace. Hakim reminisces about bringing Fariba to this place in happier times, describing her as the most vibrant person he knows, with a contagious laugh.
While Tariq explores a cave, Hakim opens up to Laila about his grief over the loss of his sons. He reveals that with Fariba being
absent-minded and depressed, he sometimes feels that Laila is all he has. They share a pipe dream of escaping to California and opening an Afghan restaurant, but they both know it's unlikely since Fariba would never leave the country where her sons were martyred.
Six months later, in April 1988, the announcement is made that the Soviets are leaving Afghanistan. However, Fariba is not impressed because the communist regime is still in power. She declares that she will only celebrate when the Mujahideen hold a victory parade in Kabul.
In January 1989, Laila, her parents, and her friend Hasina go to watch the last Soviet convoy leaving the city. Fariba, along with other mothers, holds a picture of her war-martyred sons high above her head. Tariq shows up wearing a Russian fur hat as a joke, providing a comedic moment amidst the tension of Hakim's heart attack and Fariba's prayer recitation. Later, Laila and Tariq go to the cinema and watch a badly dubbed Soviet film. They laugh hysterically, and when the film ends with a wedding scene, Tariq announces that he will never get married. Laila echoes his sentiment but feels a sense of disappointment. As the film concludes with a kiss, Laila feels self-conscious, wondering how Tariq perceives her. She hopes he doesn't notice her imagining what it would be like to kiss him, and Tariq breaks the tension with a joke about snot in Siberia.
Three years later, in April 1992, Tariq's father has a series of strokes, and Tariq has outgrown his artificial leg, waiting for the Red Cross to provide him with a new one. Laila's friend Hasina has been taken tomarry a cousin in Lahore. The Soviet Union collapses rapidly, and Afghanistan experiences political turbulence as the Communists struggle to hold onto power. Najibullah, the ex-Communist leader, attempts to strike a deal with the Mujahideen but fails. Fariba continues to hold vigils, waiting for her sons' enemies to fall.
In April 1992, when Laila turns 14, the Communists definitively fall. On the day of Najibullah's surrender, Fariba undergoes a transformation,
becoming active and cheerful. Laila notices her own transition into womanhood, and Fariba becomes more aware of the inappropriateness of Laila's relationship with Tariq, who is 16. Fariba cautions Laila about protecting her reputation as a pretty girl and warns her about the consequences of losing control. Laila is annoyed by her mother's sudden intrusion but acknowledges that there is some truth to her words. She becomes aware of being observed and whispered about when she is out with Tariq. She recalls how Rasheed playfully referred to them as "Laili and Majnoon," after star-crossed lovers in a tale by the poet NeChapter 23(continued):
zami. Laila realizes that she has fallen in love with Tariq.
At a party celebrating the new government formed by an Islamic Jihad Council, Laila grows annoyed with Tariq smoking and hanging out with a group of boys who call after girls. Tariq playfully teases her about how other girls find smoking attractive but reassures her that he only has eyes for her.
Suddenly, a fight breaks out among the guests over politics, and there is loud screaming in the yard. Laila is horrified to see Tariq getting involved in the scuffle. The political situation deteriorates as a leadership council forms prematurely and the Mujahideen, lacking a common enemy, turn against each other. Rockets start raining down on Kabul, and people seek shelter while Fariba retreats to her bed. The chapter ends with the unfolding chaos of the political situation.
Life in Kabul is filled with tension as rockets constantly fly through the sky, exploding at random locations. Laila is particularly worried about Tariq's safety. Guerrilla warfare plagues the streets, with different warlords controlling various neighborhoods and causing havoc, even targeting innocent women and children. Laila's ability to go outside is severely restricted, and when she does venture out, Tariq accompanies her. Tariq has obtained a gun for protection, a fact that both scares and fascinates Laila. He assures her that he would only use it to kill in order toprotect her, a sentiment that Laila finds both lovely and terrifying. Despite the dangerous circumstances, Laila and Tariq share a kiss, an act that seems harmless amidst the chaos of war. Hakim tries to convince Fariba to leave Kabul, but she remains convinced that peace will
eventually come. Laila is forced to leave school and receives education from Hakim, who excels as a teacher. However, her thoughts are constantly consumed by Tariq, with whom she has deepened her emotional connection. The devastating loss of her friend Giti, who is killed by a stray rocket, further intensifies Laila's sorrow, and she mourns for Giti as well as her own unshed tears for her brothers.
Laila is shocked to learn that Tariq's family is leaving Afghanistan due to his father's failing health. Many families are fleeing the region in search of safety. Initially, Laila is furious with Tariq for abandoning her, but she soon realizes the importance of cherishing every moment with him. They engage in a sexual encounter, fully aware of the risks and potential consequences if they are caught. Laila's hymenal blood on the floor fills her with shame and guilt. Tariq suggests that they get married and that Laila should come with him. He confesses his love for her, fulfilling Laila's long-awaited desire to hear those words. However, Laila is torn between her love for Tariq and her responsibilities towards her heartbroken and lonely father. Although Tariq understands her family obligations, he continues to plead with her. In the end, Laila forces him to leave, but he promises to return for her.
Amidst a scorching heatwave and power outage in Kabul, Laila finds herself reminiscing about her time with Tariq. She experiences conflicting emotions of guilt and a deep conviction that their intimate encounter was inevitable, given the uncertainty of ever seeing each other again. Laila is troubled by her inability to remember the exact words Tariq spoke during their final two weeks together. She realizes that while she currently aches with the pain of their separation, time will eventually dull the intensity, only to be triggered by random moments that flood her with memories and steal her breath.
Hakim interrupts Laila's reverie and informs her that Fariba has agreed to leave Kabul. Laila excitedly imagines that if they go to Pakistan to obtain visas, they may be able to find Tariq. The city of Kabul is filled
with rubblefrom rocket attacks. That night, Laila dreams of being with Tariq on a beach, both wearing wedding bands. As they pack their belongings, it becomes painful for Laila to sift through objects that evoke old memories, particularly for Hakim, who struggles to leave behind his beloved books.
Suddenly, a deafening roar and a blinding flash throw Laila off her feet, rendering her unconscious. When she regains consciousness, she finds herself in the presence of a woman with a long face and narrow-set eyes, and a man with a broad, droopy face. They administer pink pills to her, aiding in her recovery.
To Laila's surprise, it is Mariam and Rasheed who have rescued her and are now nursing her back to health. Rasheed boasts of his heroic efforts, exaggerating the size of the metal fragment he supposedly extracted from her shoulder. He salvages some of Hakim's books and buys Laila a new blanket, pillow, and vitamin pills. He also relays the news that Tariq's house has been taken over by the men of the Sayyaf warlords, although Mariam knows that Rasheed is embellishing the truth, as the men are actually just boys.
As Laila slowly recovers, she still experiences flashbacks and nightmares. Like Mariam, she carries a burden of guilt for the death of a parent, realizing that under different circumstances, she could have been the one killed. Drawing from her own experiences, Mariam understands the limited comfort she can offer. A day after the blast that claimed Laila's parents, a man named Abdul Sharif requests to speak with her.
Abdul Sharif is a talkative businessman who travels between his warehouse in Peshawar, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. During his travels in these perilous times, he suffers from blood poisoning and ends up in the hospital. It is there that he encounters Tariq. Through a nurse, Abdul Sharif learns that Tariq was in a lorry full of refugees at the Peshawar border when they were caught in crossfire, resulting in a rocket hitting
the lorry. Tariq was one of the few survivors admitted to the same hospital unit. He was severely injured, with tubes coming out of his throat, having lost his other leg and sustained severe burns. Tariq, despite his condition, manages to convey to Abdul Sharif his love for Laila and his desire for her not to see him in such a state. He requests that Abdul Sharif, as he passes through Kabul,find Laila and inform her of his thoughts. Eventually, Abdul Sharif reveals that Tariq died in the bed next to him. It is through the stranger's delivery of this devastating news that Laila comprehends the depth of chapter 26:
Laila is caught in a heatwave and power outage in Kabul, where she can't help but think about Tariq. Despite feeling guilty, she believes that their actions were inevitable, driven by the uncertainty of their future together. She struggles to remember the exact words Tariq said during their final two weeks together. Laila knows that with time, the pain will fade, but she will still be reminded of their time together unexpectedly, causing her heart to ache once more.
Interrupting her thoughts, Hakim informs Laila that Fariba has agreed to leave Kabul. Laila imagines the possibility of finding Tariq if they go to Pakistan for visas. The city is filled with rubble from rocket attacks, and as they pack, it becomes painful for both Laila and Hakim to leave behind objects that hold memories.
Suddenly, there is a massive explosion, and Laila is knocked unconscious, waking up to the presence of a woman with a long face and narrow-set eyes, as well as a man with a broad, droopy face. They administer pink pills to her.
Laila is being nursed back to health by Mariam and Rasheed. Rasheed boasts about rescuing her, exaggerating the size of the metal fragment he claims to have removed from her shoulder. He salvages some of Hakim's books and buys Laila new bedding and vitamin pills. Rasheed informs Laila that Tariq's house has been taken over by Sayyaf warlords, but Mariam knows that Rasheed is exaggerating, as the men are actually just boys.
As Laila slowly recovers, she still experiences flashbacks and nightmares. Like Mariam, she carries guilt for the loss of a parent and
understands the limited comfort she can offer. A day after the blast that killed Laila's parents, a man named Abdul Sharif requests to speak with her.
Abdul Sharif is a talkative businessman who frequently travels between his warehouse in Peshawar, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. During his travels, he contracts blood poisoning and ends up in the hospital, where he encounters Tariq. Abdul Sharif learns from a nurse that Tariq was in a lorry with refugees at the Peshawar border when they came under crossfire and were hit by a rocket. Tariq was one of the few survivorsadmitted to the same hospital unit. Severely injured, with tubes in his throat, Tariq had lost his other leg and suffered burns. Tariq manages to convey his love for Laila and his desire for her not to see him in such a state. He asks Abdul Sharif to find Laila when he passes through Kabul and tell her about his thoughts. In a heartbreaking revelation, Abdul Sharif tells Laila that Tariq died in the bed next to him. This news makes Laila fully understand the magnitude of her mother's loss when her brothers died. Laila retreats into her thoughts and daydreams of better times.
During dinner, Rasheed puts on a show of sympathy, apologizing for Laila's loss and displaying improved table manners. Mariam observes his exaggerated behavior, noting that it is nothing less than a courtship. Despite his lies and contrived empathy, Mariam is more concerned about Rasheed's staged performance than the content of his words.
Mariam gathers the courage to confront Rasheed in his room and question his intentions. He attempts to justify the situation by proposing to legitimize it and make Laila his second wife. When Mariam objects, Rasheed argues that having multiple wives is acceptable and claims that he is being charitable by offering Laila a home, considering the dangers of the streets and the unsanitary conditions in refugee camps. He presents his proposal as a selfless act.
Mariam relays Rasheed's proposal to Laila, who immediately agrees to
marry him.
Laila remains in bed when Rasheed enters the room dressed in a pinstripe suit, carrying a wedding band he obtained by trading Mariam's old wedding ring. Laila rejects the ring, expressing her desire for a simple ceremony and stating that they should get married without much fuss. Although she feels repulsed when Rasheed touches her, he interprets her reaction as eagerness to marry him.
Originally, Laila planned to leave for Pakistan even after hearing the news from Abdul Sharif. However, she realizes that she cannot leave now because she is experiencing pregnancy symptoms and wants to protect the only remaining connection to Tariq - their unborn child. Laila acknowledges that it is dishonorable to hide out at Rasheed's house and acknowledges the unfairness towards Mariam, but her loyalty is primarily to her baby.
Laila's recollection of her wedding night is fragmented, and she asks Rasheed to turn off the lights. Later, when she is certain that Rasheed is asleep, she deliberatelypricks her index finger with a knife and allows it to bleed onto the sheet, creating the illusion of losing her virginity.
There is an uncomfortable atmosphere in the house as Mariam and Laila try to avoid each other. Mariam can sometimes smell Rasheed on Laila - his sweat, tobacco, and appetite. Rasheed insists on conversation at the dinner table and humiliates Mariam in front of Laila, referring to her as a lowly village harami, a hurtful insult. He declares that Mariam is to be Laila's servant and assigns her the role of overseeing Laila. Rasheed further criticizes Laila's parents for being lenient and asserts that in his house, her honor will be of utmost importance. Laila is not allowed to leave the house without Rasheed or without wearing a burqa. Rasheed manipulates the situation, making Mariam his eyes and ears and positioning her as Laila's supervisor.
Later, when the two women cross paths in the courtyard, Mariam is hostile toward Laila. She makes it clear that she will not be Laila's
servant or friend and demands that Laila do her share of the household chores.
Upon learning of Laila's pregnancy, Rasheed rushes to the mosque to pray for a son. Laila recalls gossip she overheard at her mother's parties, suggesting that Rasheed's negligence while drunk led to his son's drowning. Rasheed cruelly and cheerfully announces Laila's pregnancy to Mariam, further fueling Mariam's animosity towards Laila. As the only one who ventures outside, Rasheed brings news of the ongoing war and guerrilla fighting back home.
One day, Rasheed takes Laila to his shoe shop. Laila finds the burqa confining but appreciates the anonymity it affords her. When Rasheed comments on Laila's rapid swelling and expresses his expectation of fathering a big boy, Laila becomes anxious, fearing that her secret will be discovered. When Rasheed asks about her relationship with Mariam, Laila lies and claims that everything is fine. However, she reveals that they had their first major fight, which started with a misplaced spoon and escalated into a heated exchange of insults.
Laila goes into labor and gives birth to a baby girl whom she names Aziza, meaning "cherished one." Rasheed is disappointed with the arrival of a girl and blames the baby for taking Laila's attention away from him, referring to her as a miniature warlord. Although Mariam remains cautious around Laila, she finds herself admiring Laila's constant care for herdaughter and feeling a sense of pity when Laila falls short in Rasheed's eyes.
Rasheed blames Mariam for Laila's lack of intimacy with him. When he threatens to beat Mariam with his belt, Laila intervenes and pleads with him to stop.
Unable to sleep, Mariam goes downstairs where Aziza is still awake. She develops a deep bond with the baby.
Laila adores her daughter Aziza and often whispers to her about Tariq, whom the child resembles, without explicitly mentioning his name. Rasheed becomes suspicious and interrogates Laila about her relationship with Tariq. Laila insists that Tariq was more like a brother or friend to her, but Rasheed taunts her by referencing the gossip and rumors surrounding them. Laila keeps another secret from Rasheed - she has been stealing money from him weekly, saving up to escape to Peshawar. The next morning, Laila finds baby clothes for a girl outside her door. The clothes are a gift from Mariam, who had sewn them during one of her failed pregnancies. Mariam expresses gratitude to Laila for standing up for her when Rasheed was about to beat her, acknowledging that nobody had ever stood up for her before. This exchange strengthens the bond between the two women, and they deviate from their usual routine to enjoy chai in the yard. When Aziza wakes up, there is an understanding and unguarded look that passes between Laila and Mariam, signifying that they are no longer enemies.
A new routine emerges in the house as Mariam and Laila start doing their chores together. Mariam is deeply moved by the strong connection Aziza feels toward her, as it represents the first genuine connection she has experienced in a life filled with failed relationships. In January 1994, the violence escalates in Kabul, with the streets littered with bodies. Militiamen use rape as a reward and honor killings are performed on women who have been raped. As Mariam and Laila grow closer, Mariam confides in Laila about the hardships she has endured in the past. In turn, Laila reveals her plan to leave in the spring with Aziza and invites Mariam to join them. For Mariam, the presence of Laila and Aziza brings newfound hope, like two blossoming flowers amidst a life of disappointments. Mariam hears the voice of Mullah Faizullah in the distance, reminding her that it is God's will for her to care for them.
On a spring morningin 1994, Laila has a premonition that Rasheed has discovered her secret. This is the day she planned to leave with Mariam and Aziza. Both women wear burqas to conceal their identities and feel
anxious about being caught. At the Lahore Gate bus station, they need a man to pose as a family member due to the restrictions imposed on women's freedoms after the Mujahideen took over. Laila approaches a young man named Wakil and convinces him that she is a widow traveling with her mother and daughter to stay with an uncle in Peshawar. She discreetly slips him some money. However, their plans are thwarted when a militiaman stops them and takes them to a police station. Laila realizes that Wakil has betrayed them by revealing that he is not their cousin. They are interrogated, and Laila struggles to maintain their fabricated story. The officer identifies them as women attempting to escape their husband and refuses to let them pass, citing that a man's actions in his home are his business. Rasheed is summoned, and upon their return home, he subjects both Mariam and Laila to a beating. Mariam is locked in the toolshed, while Laila and Aziza are imprisoned in a room with boarded windows. Aziza's health deteriorates, and Laila has a dream about Tariq.
In September 1996, the Taliban arrive in Kabul to a celebratory atmosphere. Mariam learns about the Taliban from Rasheed, who praises them as pure, incorruptible, and decent Muslim boys who will bring peace and order. In Rasheed's eyes, Mariam and Laila have merged into one entity, both deserving of his distrust and disdain. The family goes out to greet the Taliban, and they are welcomed by the people of Kabul as harbingers of peace. However, their first encounter with the new leaders at Pashtunistan Square is violent, with a man holding a rocket launcher and two bloodied corpses hanging from ropes, including Najibullah, the former communist leader. The Taliban use propaganda to spread their message, taking control of the radio and distributing flyers with strict laws and punishments. Women are particularly affected, as they are now confined to their homes and unable to go outside without a male relative. Laila is shocked by the oppression imposed on women in Kabul, a city that once had women practicing law and medicine. Rasheed explains that Kabul is aligning with the misogynistic practices prevalent in therest of the country. Mariam realizes that Najibullah's status as a communist and head of the secret police made him only slightly more contemptible than a woman in the eyes of the Taliban.
Laila is thankful that her father is not alive to witness the Taliban's assault on non-Islamic culture, which includes book-burnings, the closure of universities and cinemas, and the transformation of the Marco Polo restaurant into an interrogation center. Rasheed, now sporting a beard, views the Taliban with a mix of forgiveness and amusement. He listens to the Voice of Shari'a on Wednesday nights to hear the announcements of those to be punished and attends the Taliban's spectacles at Ghazi Stadium on Fridays. In bed, Rasheed taunts Laila about the violence he witnesses and threatens to give away Aziza, implying that he has suspicions about her parentage. Laila contemplates aborting her pregnancy but cannot bring herself to do it, considering the innocent lives already lost.
In September 1997, when Laila goes into labor, she is unable to seek treatment at the old women's hospital due to the Taliban's segregation policy. Instead, they go to an unsanitary hospital guarded by the Taliban. Laila is placed in a crowded delivery room where the midwives wear burqas. Despite the lack of proper equipment and resources, Laila must undergo a caesarean section. The hospital is poorly funded, and the Taliban's misogyny diverts the money meant for women's hospitals to other purposes. Mariam stays by Laila's side throughout the process, admiring her strength.
Two years later, in the fall of 1999, life in Kabul becomes increasingly challenging due to a drought and water shortages. Rasheed dotes on their two-year-old son, Zalmai, leading him to become mischievous and reckless. Zalmai is favored and given special treatment, even being allowed to share Rasheed and Laila's bed. Rasheed takes Zalmai to the shoeshop and forms a bond with him. Laila is kept away from her son in Rasheed's presence. Aziza, who resembles Laila, acts as a peacemaker between Zalmai and the rest of the family. Rasheed buys Zalmai a
television from an underground bazaar, despite the Taliban's ban on such devices. Rasheed manipulates Laila, threatening that Aziza could become a street beggar, and in a fit of anger, she slaps him. In response, Rasheed puts a gun in her mouth, and Laila has a nightmare about burying Aziza.
The summer of 2000 is marked by theworst year of the drought in Kabul. Despite the hardships, people in the city become obsessed with the movie Titanic, as pirated copies find their way into the city. They watch the film secretly after curfew, finding solace in the story of Jack and Rose. However, Laila recognizes the fantasy and asserts that there is no Jack coming to rescue them. Rasheed's shop burns down in a fire, forcing them to sell their belongings. Rasheed becomes increasingly violent towards the women, and hunger becomes a pervasive presence in their lives. Food becomes scarce, and Laila worries about her children's survival. Mariam vows to protect them and tries to seek help from Jalil but learns that he has passed away. They return home empty-handed, and Mariam notices a familiar face in the doorman.
In April 2001, the Taliban carry out international suicide bombings and destroy the famous Buddhas in Bamiyan, which Laila had once visited with Tariq and her father. However, Laila is unable to muster much concern for the statues when her own life is falling apart. Due to their dire financial situation, Aziza is sent to a dilapidated orphanage. The orphanage owner empathizes with Laila, acknowledging that many mothers are unable to feed their children due to the Taliban's restrictions. Saying goodbye to Aziza is painful for Laila, and she longs to spend more time with her but is limited by Rasheed's stinginess. Sometimes, Rasheed feigns illness to cut their visits short. Determined to see Aziza, Laila risks being caught by the Taliban and endures beatings. Despite the challenges, Laila cherishes the moments she can spend with Aziza, who is learning and growing at the orphanage. Aziza stammers due to her traumatic experiences. Rasheed becomes a doorman at the Intercontinental hotel and promises that Aziza can return
home once he earns enough money. At the end of the chapter, Tariq, who was believed to be dead, unexpectedly arrives at their house, and Laila rushes to greet him.
Mariam is in her room with a restless Zalmai, Rasheed and Laila's son. Zalmai, instinctively disliking Tariq, asks Mariam who the man is. Mariam explains that he is Laila's childhood friend. Zalmai becomes upset, dropping his basketball and screaming until Laila comes upstairs to comfort him. Mariam waits outside the room and looks at Tariq, finally realizing why the doorman at the Continental hotel seemed familiar on the day she and Rasheedhad gone to call Jalil. She ponders the extent to which Rasheed had paid Abdul Sharif to fabricate the story of Tariq's death.
As Tariq and Laila talk, she reminisces about their emotional reunion, how she clung to him and wept, and how she longs to touch him again to confirm his presence. Laila is careful not to laugh too much, conscious of her yellowing teeth and missing incisor from Rasheed's beatings. She notices that Tariq has grown into an adult at the age of twenty-five, becoming weathered and starting to lose his hair. Tariq presents Laila with a block of cheese, a gift from a goat named Alyona, whom he named after a Soviet film heroine. He reveals that he has been living in Pir Panjal, Pakistan, a former British hill station. They both express their shock at how unrecognizable Kabul has become. Tariq shares his own journey, explaining that he and his parents stayed in Nasir Bagh refugee camp near Peshawar. The camp suffered from dysentery and neglect after the fall of the Soviets, resulting in the death of many children. Tariq's father died in the camp's first winter, prompting Tariq to vow that he and his mother would not spend another year there. Tariq faced difficulties finding work due to prejudice against his leg, but eventually, a man offered him money to transport hashish to Lahore. Unfortunately, he was caught by the police and imprisoned for seven years. During his time in prison, he wrote numerous letters to Laila. With the help of a man named Sayeed, Tariq found employment as a handyman and
eventually saved enough money to buy a goat.
Laila reveals that she thought Tariq was dead and explains the real reason she married Rasheed. Tariq expresses his desire to see their daughter, Aziza. Laila invites him to return the next day so they can visit Aziza together. As they bid farewell, Tariq notices the damage Rasheed has done to Laila's tooth.
That night, Zalmai informs Rasheed that Laila has a new male friend with a limp. During dinner, Laila confronts Rasheed about his lies regarding Tariq's death, and he retaliates by accusing her of lying and being a "harami" and a whore. Zalmai admits that Laila allowed Tariq to see her face.
Rasheed accuses Mariam and Laila of conspiring during Tariq's visit. He orders Zalmai to go upstairs and locks him in his room. Rasheedthen comes downstairs with a belt and lashes at Laila repeatedly, causing Mariam to lose count of the blows. In a display of teamwork, Mariam and Laila fight back against Rasheed. As Rasheed attempts to strangle Laila, Mariam surprises him by hitting him with a shovel. There is a murderous intent in Rasheed's eyes, and before he can retrieve his gun, Mariam raises the shoveland strikes him with all her strength, delivering a powerful blow. The impact of the blow causes Rasheed to collapse. Mariam and Laila have taken a decisive action to defend themselves, knowing that their actions may have dire consequences.
Laila regains consciousness and initially fears that she may soon die. However, Mariam shakes her and asks if she is okay. As Laila sits up, she sees Rasheed lying motionless with a vacant expression. Mariam suggests moving Rasheed's body so that Zalmai, their son, doesn't see him. They drag Rasheed to the toolshed and leave him there. Mariam tends to Laila's wounds and assures her that everything will be fine once they leave with the children and Tariq.
Laila says goodnight to Zalmai, who is expecting his father, and tells him that Rasheed has gone away. The next morning, Mariam tells Laila
to go and bring Aziza, implying that she will stay behind while Laila and the children leave with Tariq. Laila pleads with Mariam to come with them, but Mariam expresses concerns about the consequences they might face, including the possibility of losing their hands for stealing bread. Mariam also worries about facing Zalmai after killing his father. She tells Laila that she has already been given everything she had ever wished for as a little girl. Mariam chooses to remain behind while Laila and Zalmai go to fetch Aziza, and Laila never sees Mariam again.
Mariam finds herself in Walayat women's prison for ten days. It is a dreary and unsanitary place guarded by Taliban officers. Most of the women incarcerated there are accused of running away from home rather than committing violent crimes. Mariam becomes somewhat of a celebrity among the inmates, who share food with her. She reflects on the story of Naghma, imprisoned for allegedly seducing a mullah's son, and remembers her mother Nana's warning about the accusations and blame that often fall upon women.
Mariam's trial took place a week earlier without legal counsel, public hearing, or cross-examination of witnesses. She confesses tokilling her husband, explaining that she did so to save Laila from being strangled to death. The judge declares that Mariam is "not a wicked woman" but has done a wicked act, citing the clarity of Shari'a law. Mariam is sentenced to death.
On her last night in prison, Mariam has disjointed dreams of her childhood. As she is taken to Ghazi Stadium, a young armed Talib sympathizes with her fear, recounting his own father's fear on the day the Communists took him.
Walking toward the southern goal post at Ghazi Stadium, Mariam reflects on the unkindness she has faced in her life. Yet, she also wishes for more of it, particularly to see Aziza grow into a beautiful young woman. Despite her impending execution, Mariam feels an overwhelming sense of peace as she realizes she was born into the world as an unwanted harami but is leaving as a woman who has experienced love. The Talib instructs her to kneel, and Mariam obediently complies.
The narration shifts to the present tense. Laila and Tariq marry on the night they arrive in Murree. They live and work in a hotel, taking care of its cleaning and maintenance. They find contentment in their life together with Aziza and Zalmai, but it comes at a cost. Laila tells Aziza the truth about Tariq, and they form a deep bond. However, Zalmai remains defensive and fiercely loyal to Rasheed, believing he will return from his trip. Laila feels guilty knowing that she will have to lie to Zalmai about his father's whereabouts for the rest of her life.At night, Laila continues to have nightmares about their house in Kabul, and she imagines that she can hear Mariam's presence, reminding her of the past and the sacrifices made.
From their position in the Murree hotel, Laila and Tariq stay updated on the political changes unfolding in Afghanistan. They hear about Ahmad Shah Massoud's death from a bomb and witness the televised footage of the September 11 attacks on the twin towers, leading to America declaring war on Afghanistan. Tariq suggests that the American bombs might clear out the present regime, but Laila, having experienced the horrors of bombing and its impact on innocent civilians, is furious. She can't bear the thought of more children being orphaned by such violence.
By June 2002, the Taliban has been driven out of major cities in Afghanistan, and the reconstructionefforts have begun. Remembering her father's words about Afghanistan needing her after the war, Laila expresses her desire to go back and contribute. She briefly questions her sanity in taking her young family back to Kabul, a city that has seen so much suffering. However, she recalls the beauty of the city, reciting an ode taught to her by her father that describes the shimmering moons and splendid suns hidden behind its walls.
Deciding to return to Kabul, Laila and Tariq make a detour via Herat,
the town where Mariam's father lived. Laila leaves her family in a Gul Daman hotel and visits Mullah Faizullah's house alone. She shares her story with Faizullah's son, Hamza, and asks him to show her where Mariam lived with her mother. They visit the kolba, which is still standing, and as Laila explores the place, she envisions Mariam and the fifteen years she spent there. Hamza presents Laila with a box that Jalil Khan intended to give to Mariam. Inside the box, Laila finds a videotape of Pinocchio, the film Jalil promised Mariam they would watch but never did. There is also a letter Jalil wrote to Mariam in 1987, expressing his deep regret and sorrow for not opening the door of his house to her until it was too late.
Laila and her family settle in Kabul, which is undergoing reconstruction and experiencing relative peace. However, there are still lingering injustices as some warlords have returned to the city. Tariq finds work with a French NGO that helps land mine survivors by providing them with prosthetic limbs. Laila contributes to the rebuilding of the orphanage where Aziza once lived and also works as a teacher there. Throughout her life, Laila keeps Mariam close to her heart, describing her as a shining presence radiating with the brilliance of a thousand suns. When Laila becomes pregnant again, she already knows that if the baby is a girl, she will name her Mariam, honoring her beloved friend and sister.