Now since Baba and Amir are in America, they decided to sell their belongings for money at a flea market. That is the place where Amir's future changed. He found his love. Her name is Soraya. Amir always thought about her, always thinking about her appearance. Even during class he would just think about her features, the ones he adored. He was always too shy to speak to her, he feared that he would be judged by her father, General Taheri. He also did not want to embarrass Baba. Baba's image was important to him, he never liked to be embarrassed. Baba knew that Amir admired Soraya, that he wanted her. Baba said he will call General Taheri so they can meet altogether so Amir can ask him for his daughter's hand. When they meet, he immediately approved. He was proud to have him in the family. Before the wedding was planned, things got worse for Baba. He was coughing blood. Amir took him to the hospital and found out that he had cancer in his brain. He refused any sort of treatment, even though Amir begged him to. He continued to refuse. Until one day at the flea market, Baba collapsed to the ground. He gained his strength and was discharged. He was okay to make it to his wedding.
As the wedding day approached, Soraya told Amir she had to tell him something about her past. She said that when she was a teenager she was rebellious and ran off with Afghan man. The worst thing a girl can do. He did not judge her because he knew he made mistakes in his past. Ones he did not want to tell her. The wedding day arrived and was a special time for them all. Baba saved around thirty-five grand for his wedding. Baba was proud of him, he always was. A month after the wedding, Baba went to sleep and never woke up. From that day forward, everything went downhill for Amir, even though he became a published writer.
Soraya and Amir wanted to have a family. They always tried to have a child, but nothing. She went to the doctor and found out she was unable to have children. The doctor said she had the option of adoption. She cried and immediately refused the option. She wanted to have a child that was blood. When she looks at the child she would see features of Amir and herself. But for an adopted baby, that would not happen. Also, the chance that the child would go looking for his/her real parents. She and Amir did not want that. Neither did her parents.
Couple years after their marriage, Soraya was outside, and saw a beaten up lady. Gashes in her skin, one eye was damaged, and was sickly looking. Amir looked at her, it was Sanaubar, Hassan's mother. They cared for her until she was better. Amir never asked why she left and why she came back.
A man, Rahim Khan, a friend of Baba and Ali came to talk to Amir. He had nothing but bad news. He told him Ali had died in a land mine. Also, everything about Hassan. That he had a wife, lived on a village, and had a son. Hassan always wrote to Amir, about everything. It was Rahim Khans job to deliver them to him. He did, but was late. Amir asked if Hassan was okay, but found out he had been killed. Him and his wife were shot to death by Talibs. They called Hassan a liar and a thief. He argued back with them until they got shot. Their son watched the whole thing. Then he found out that Baba lied to him. Rahim told him that Ali was fertile. That he never had a son. Baba was with different women. Ali agreed to called Hassan his son so Baba's reputation would not be a stake. Hassan and Amir were brothers from different mothers. Now Amir knew why Baba always was close to Hassan, it was his son too. Hassan died never knowing that and now Amir could never tell him, or to ask for his forgiveness for what happened in the past. But Rahim Khan came to ask him a favor, to go and get Hassan's son from the orphanage in Kabul. He knew it was not safe. Amir was reluctant, but finally agreed.
When he got to Kabul, everything was different. Buildings collapsed, five year old beggars with their mothers on the streets. It did not look the same as he remembered. The soil he stood in was the soil his mom was buried in. The place where he and Hassan would get into trouble. It was nothing but memories to him.
I was so angry and upset while reading this book. I never thought things would turn out the way they did. I wanted Hassan and Amir to meet again. But unfortunately that never happened. I was mostly mad at Baba. That his reputation was more important then his sons knowing they were brothers.
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