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ith a tiled patio and large windows。 We would plant fruit trees in the garden and grow all sorts of flowers； have a lawn for our kids to play on。 On Fridays； after _namaz_ at the mosque； everyone would get together at our house for lunch and we d eat in the garden； under cherry trees； drink fresh water from the well。 Then tea with candy as we watched our kids play with their cousins。。。
He took a long gulp of his scotch。 Coughed。 You should have seen the look on my father s face when I told him。 My mother actually fainted。 My sisters splashed her face with water。 They fanned her and looked at me as if I had slit her throat。 My brother Jalal actually went to fetch his hunting rifle before my father stopped him。 Rahim Khan barked a bitter laughter。 It was Homaira and me against the world。 And I ll tell you this； Amir jan： In the end； the world always wins。 That s just the way of things。
So what happened？
That same day； my father put Homaira and her family on a lorry and sent them off to Hazarajat。 I never saw her again。
I m sorry； I said。
Probably for the best； though； Rahim Khan said； shrugging。 She would have suffered。 My family would have never accepted her as an equal。 You don t order someone to polish your shoes one day and call them sister the next。 He looked at me。 You know； you can tell me anything you want； Amir jan。 Anytime。
I know； I said uncertainly。 He looked at me for a long time； like he was waiting； his black bottomless eyes hinting at an unspoken secret between us。 For a moment； I almost did tell him。 Almost told him everything； but then what would he think of me？ He d hate me； and rightfully。
Here。 He handed me something。 I almost forgot。 Happy birthday。 It was a brown leather…bound notebook。 I traced my fingers along the gold…colored stitching on the borders。 I smelled the
leather。 For your stories； he said。 I was going to thank him when something exploded and bursts of fire lit up the sky。
Fireworks！
We hurried back to the house and found the guests all standing in the yard； looking up to the sky。 Kids hooted and screamed with each crackle and whoosh。 People cheered； burst into applause each time flares sizzled and exploded into bouquets of fire。 Every few seconds； the backyard lit up in sudden flashes of red； green； and yellow。
In one of those brief bursts of light； I saw something I ll never forget： Hassan serving drinks to Assef and Wali from a silver platter。 The light winked out； a hiss and a crackle； then another flicker of orange light： Assef grinning； kneading Hassan in the chest with a knuckle。
Then； mercifully； darkness。
NINE
Sitting in the middle of my room the next morning； I ripped open box after box of presents。 I don t know why I even bothered； since I just gave them a joyless glance and pitched them to the corner of the room。 The pile was growing there： a Polaroid camera； a transistor radio； an elaborate electric train set……and several sealed envelopes containing cash。 I knew I d never spend the money or listen to the radio； and the electric train would never trundle down its tracks in my ro