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Caught his breath。 Wiped his brow。 Amirjan is my only son。。。 my only child； and he has been a good son to me。 I hope he proves。。。 worthy of your kindness。 I ask that you honor Amir jan and me。。。 and accept my son into your family。
The general nodded politely。
We are honored to wele the son of a man such as yourself into our family； he said。 Your reputation precedes you。 I was your humble admirer in Kabul and remain so today。 We are honored that your family and ours will be joined。
Amirjan； as for you； I wele you to my home as a son； as the husband of my daughter who is the noor of my eye。 Your pain will be our pain； your joy our joy。 I hope that you will e to see your Khala Jamila and me as a second set of parents； and I pray for your and our lovely Soraya jan s happiness。 You both have our blessings。
Everyone applauded； and with that signal； heads turned toward the hallway。 The moment I d waited for。
Soraya appeared at the end。 Dressed in a stunning winecolored traditional Afghan dress with long sleeves and gold trimmings。 Baba s hand took mine and tightened。 Khanum Taheri burst into fresh tears。 Slowly； Soraya caine to us； tailed by a procession of young female relatives。
She kissed my father s hands。 Sat beside me at last； her eyes downcast。
The applause swelled。
ACCORDING TO TRADITION； Soraya s family would have thrown the engagement party the Shirini…khori………or Eating of the Sweets ceremony。 Then an engagement period would have followed which would have lasted a few months。 Then the wedding； which would be paid for by Baba。
We all agreed that Soraya and I would forgo the Shirini…khori。 Everyone knew the reason； so no one had to actually say it： that Baba didn t have months to live。
Soraya and I never went out alone together while preparations for the wedding proceeded……since we weren t married yet； hadn t even had a Shirini…khori； it was considered improper。 So I had to make do with going over to the Taheris with Baba for dinner。 Sit across from Soraya at the dinner table。 Imagine what it
would be like to feel her head on my chest； smell her hair。 Kiss her。 Make love to her。
Baba spent 35；000； nearly the balance of his life savings； on the awroussi； the wedding ceremony。 He rented a large Afghan banquet hail in Fremont……the man who owned it knew him from Kabul and gave him a substantial discount。 Baba paid for the ？？chi las； our matching wedding bands； and for the diamond ring I picked out。 He bought my tuxedo； and my traditional green suit for the nika……the swearing ceremony。 For all the frenzied preparations that went into the wedding night……most of it； blessedly； by Khanum Taheri and her friends…… I remember only a handful of moments from it。
I remember our nika。 We were seated around a table； Soraya and I dressed in green……the color of Islam； but also the color of spring and new beginnings。 I wore a suit； Soraya （the only woman at the table） a veiled long…sleeved dress。 Baba； General Taheri （in a tuxedo this time）； and several of Soraya s uncles were also present at the table。 Soraya and I looked down； solemnly respectful； casting onl