【】rghalake,inthegardensofpaghn.ltiloredbusesandlorriesfilledpersandyelpeddireonth</p>

ofradan,kabulisdressedintheirbestandneilies.peoplehuggedandkissedaedeachotherubarak.”happyeid.childrenopenedgiftsandplayedhdyedhardboiledeggs.</p>

earlythatfolloin.“hassan,aghasahibpits,breathpuffingfroisuth.</p>

hassanandiexgedasle.wedbeening.</p>

alishrugged.“aghasahibhasntdiscussedite.”</p>

“eon,ali,tellus,”ipressed.“isitadraaybeaneol”</p>

likehassan,alieforourbirthdays.andeveryyear,hiseyesbetrayedhind.thisti,though,itseedheellih.</p>

babaneverssedhassansbirthday.foraodesttoaself.heboughthijaparuoussicasbedundsofsnoeachotherdead.</p>

ovedoursnoandressedinabroaie.</p>

“hassan,”babasaid,slingyly,“etyourbirthdaypresent.”</p>

hassananditradedblanklooks.thereathetiher.</p>

theindianninthebroiledandofferedhassanhishand.“iar.kur,”hesaid.“itsapleasuretoetyou.”hespokefarsihathick,rollinghindiat.</p>

“salaalayku”hassansaidun.alivedcloserahishandonhassansshoulder.</p>

babathassansneddr.kurfroearisaplasticsurgeon.”</p>

“doyouknoandr.kursaid.</p>

hassanshookhishead.helookedtoforhelpbutishrugged.allikedintohiseyes.</p>

“arsaid,“jobistofixthingsonpeoplesbodies.sotistheirfaces.”</p>