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hill； thoughts were exploding in my head like the fireworks at _Chaman_。 _Best story you ve read me in a long time_； he d said。 I had read him a _lot_ of stories。 Hassan was asking me something。
What？ I said。
What does that mean； fascinating ？
I laughed。 Clutched him in a hug and planted a kiss on his cheek。
What was that for？ he said； startled； blushing。
I gave him a friendly shove。 Smiled。 You re a prince； Hassan。 You re a prince and I love you。
That same night； I wrote my first short story。 It took me thirty minutes。 It was a dark little tale about a man who found a magic cup and learned that if he wept
into the cup； his tears turned into pearls。 But even though he had always been poor； he was a happy man and rarely shed a tear。 So he found ways to make himself sad so that his tears could make him rich。 As the pearls piled up； so did his greed grow。 The story ended with the man sitting on a mountain of pearls； knife in hand； weeping helplessly into the cup with his beloved wife s slain body in his arms。
That evening； I climbed the stairs and walked into Baba s smoking room； in my hands the two sheets of paper on which I had scribbled the story。 Baba and Rahim Khan were smoking pipes and sipping brandy when I came in。
What is it； Amir？ Baba said； reclining on the sofa and lacing his hands behind his head。 Blue smoke swirled around his face。 His glare made my throat feel dry。 I cleared it and told him I d written a story。
Baba nodded and gave a thin smile that conveyed little more than feigned interest。 Well； that s very good； isn t it？ he said。 Then nothing more。 He just looked at me through the cloud of smoke。
I probably stood there for under a minute； but； to this day； it was one of the longest minutes of my life。 Seconds plodded by； each separated from the next by an eternity。 Air grew heavy damp； almost solid。 I was breathing bricks。 Baba went on staring me down； and didn t offer to read。
As always； it was Rahim Khan who rescued me。 He held out his hand and favored me with a smile that had nothing feigned about it。 May I have it； Amir jan？ I would very much like to read it。 Baba hardly ever used the term of endearment _jan_ when he addressed me。
Baba shrugged and stood up。 He looked relieved； as if he too had been rescued by Rahim Khan。 Yes； give it to Kaka Rahim。 I m going upstairs to get ready。 And with that； he left the room。 Most days I worshiped Baba with an intensity approaching the religious。 But right then； I wished I could open my veins and drain his cursed blood from my body。
An hour later； as the evening sky dimmed； the two of them drove off in my father s car to attend a party。 On his way out； Rahim Khan hunkered before me and handed me my story and another folded piece of paper。 He flashed a smile and winked。 For you。 Read it later。 Then he paused and added a single word that did more to encourage me to pursue writing than any pliment any editor has ever paid me。 That word was _Bravo_。
When they left； I sat on my bed and wished Rahim Khan had been my father。 Then I thought of Baba and his great big chest and how g