Pasage from A Thousand Splendid Suns (Chapter 33 – pages 235-236)

A Thousand Splendid Suns, Passage Eleven (Chapter 33 – pages 235-236)

Early one morning the next spring, of 1993, Mariam stood by the living room window and watched Rasheed escort the girl out of the house. The girl was tottering forward, bentat the waist, one arm draped protectively across the taut drum of her belly,the shape of which was visible through her burqa. Rasheed, anxious and overly attentive, was holding her elbow, directing her across the yard like a trafficpoliceman. He made a Wait here gesture, rushed to the front gate, then motioned for the girl to come forward, one foot propping the gate open. When she reached him, he took her by the hand, helped her through the gate. Mariam could almost hear him say, "Watch your step, now, my flower, my gul."

They came back early the next evening.

Mariam saw Rasheed enter the yard first.He let the gate go prematurely, and it almost hit the girl on the face. Hecrossed the yard in a few, quick steps. Mariam detected a shadow on his face, adarkness underlying the coppery light of dusk. In the house, he took off his coat, threw it on the couch. Brushing past Mariam, he said in a brusque voice, "I'm hungry. Get supper ready."

The front door to the house opened. Fromthe hallway, Mariam saw the girl, a swaddled bundle in the hook of her leftarm. She had one foot outside, the other inside, against the door, to preventit from springing shut. She was stooped over and was grunting, trying to reachfor the paper bag of belongings that she had put down in order to open thedoor. Her face was grimacing with effort. She looked up and saw Mariam.

Mariam turned around and went to the kitchen to warm Rasheed's meal.