Okay, so this post may be long, but I will sure try to shorten it...even though this book is amazing and every detail matters. But from this point on in the book is actually really upsetting. I have not yet experienced a joyful moment in this book. A problem always has to occur, which makes me angry inside. Anyways, onto the book post.
The last post ended with Mariam and Laila no longer being enemies, and it still continues that way. Gladly. They are always together, sharing the job of cleaning and cooking. Then later in the day they both go out to the yard and play with baby Aziza. They were always looking forward to the cups of chai they would drink together, that brought them together. Then one night, Mariam began telling Laila her life story about how her mother killed herself, and her father abandoned her. Laila also confessed to her that she plans to leave with Aziza in the springtime. She asked Mariam to join them, and she agreed.
On a spring morning in 1994, they decided to leave. When Rasheed left the house to go out, they hurried and left. Not thinking about the consequences that can occur. They took a taxi to the bus station to go to Peshawar. But they cannot leave alone, they have to have a man accompanying them, that is family...because women are not allowed to leave their husbands. So Mariam goes and searches for a man that can pretend to be their cousin. She found a man and told him their life story. He agrees and takes the money Mariam gave him to buy them the tickets. But then as they were boarding the bus, the militiaman made them step aside. They found out that the man that was supposedly going to buy them tickets told on them. They were taken back to their house and saw that Rasheed was full of anger. He told Mariam to wait on the couch, but grabbed Laila by the elbow and made her and Aziza go upstairs. When Laila got up to the stairs, Rasheed punched her on the side of the cheek. Rasheed dragged her by the hair, and grabbed Aziza. All Laila could see was Aziza's feet kicking in the air. He threw Aziza on the bed and before he left the room, he kicked Laila. Then all Laila could hear downstairs was Mariam getting beaten. She heard the door shut and saw from the window Rasheed grabbing Mariam by the neck with blood on his hands. Mariam had blood on her face, hair, and down her back. Laila screamed from the window saying she was sorry. He locked Mariam in the tool shed, with no water or food. For Laila, she was trapped in the room. He boarded all the windows, filled every crack, put a large object at the bottom of the door so no light can enter, and filled the keyhole. Days past and he let them out. He warned them not to do this again. After he finished talking with Laila, he kicked her between her ribs and hips.
Then, Taliban was released with new rules. Some were: women have to stay in the house at all times, if they were found outside, they would be beaten; no nail polish, if their nails were painted, they would lose a finger; and if someone steals, their hand will be cut off at the wrist, the second time, their foot will be cut off. Women and men were to attend separate hospitals too, which was a problem for Laila. She was pregnant by Rasheed. The hospital that women have to go to is dirty, has no electricity or medications. Hours after being in Labor, she gave birth to a baby boy, Zalmai. He was cared for more by Rasheed then Aziza was. Zalmai was always well behaved around Laila and Mariam. But around Rasheed, he was bad. Rasheed always praised him for the way he acted.
A tear drops here and there from my eye when I read the terrible things that Rasheed had done to Mariam and Laila. He has too much authority over them. Hopefully as the book goes on, they will both gain the freedom they deserve.
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