A Thousand Splendid Suns
Khaled Hosseini
Some heroes are built. Some are made. Some are born. This book depicts the story of an unexpectedly emerged hero. The book unfurls the story of a mother-daughter duo; not bonded by blood but by incredibly pure love. A heart-wrenching, frightening and profound reality is portrayed by the writer coherently and engagingly. The book doesn't fail to give you chills and mixed feelings at the end.
The story is about two women- Mariam and Laila and two cities- Herat and Kabul. The story starts in Herat. Mariam was an illegitimate child of a rich man of Herat; Jalil. Mariam used to live with Nana; her mother, away from town. Her father was living in a village with his 3 wives and children. Nana was a simple woman who was betrayed by her husband. However, Mariam was very fond of her father. Jalil used to visit once in a week and was very nice with her. Mariam had the desire to visit her father's home and play with her siblings. She told that desire to her father. Jalil promised to take her to a movie. However, he didn't show up the day he promised. Disappointed Mariam decided to go to her father's house by her own. She went, but her father didn't let her in. She slept on the street and that too hungry. Jalil sent his driver to send back her to home.
Mariam was sad and disappointed by her father's behaviour. As soon as she reached home, she saw a heart aching scene. Her beloved Nana committed suicide. Mariam shattered. Jalil had no choice other than to bring Mariam home. Jalil's wives were bothered by her presence; hence they told Jalil to fix Mariam's marriage as soon as possible. Jalil set Meriam's wedding with a businessman from Kabul-Rasheed. Rasheed was much elder than Marriam, and it was his second marriage. Marriam had little choice but to marry, so she married to Rasheed and went to Kabul with a heavy heart against her will. She was very angry with her father hence decided not to talk to him ever again.
Marriam came to Kabul for the first time in her life. Life was very different here than Herat. She was devastated due to a series of past events. However, Rasheed was very nice to her. He used to take her to city tour. Finally, Mariam was enjoying life, but fate had something else in store for her. Soon she had a miscarriage. Previously decent Rasheed became a little sore after this incident. Unfortunately, Mariam lost her babies several times. As soon as Rasheed understood that he will never have his own son, he started to abuse Mariam physically and verbally. Mariam's life became a misery again.
Meanwhile, across the street, Laila was growing up. She was a bubbly, beautiful child of her Mammy and Babi. Laila lost her brothers in the war against soviet. This shock left her mother in devastation. She used to isolate herself and kept herself locked in her room. Hence, Laila used to spend most of her time with her neighbour and friend Tariq. The closeness between them blossomed into love. Meanwhile, Afghanistan was suffering from tremendous trauma. The whole city was demolished due to frequent bomb blasts and gun firing. This caused anarchy and terror in people. Most of the people migrated to other countries. Tariq's family also decided to leave the country. Laila and Tariq didn't want to separate but both of them had little choice. The deep sorrow of partition made them get closer and they made out. Tariq left Afghanistan and Laila on that very day.
Day by day the situation became more and more bad. Finally, Laila's family also decided to leave the country. Unfortunately, the bomb blast caused the death of her parents. Laila also got deeply hurt and was unconscious. Rasheed brought Laila to his home and started to look after her. Rasheed had different intentions behind this social work. He wanted to marry Laila and complete his dream of having a son. Mariam knew Rasheed's purpose so she didn't want Laila to stay in her home. When Laila recovered, she came to know that she was pregnant with Tariq's child. One day a stranger came home and gave news of Tariq's death. Laila had little choice other than marrying Rasheed to keep a shelter for her and Tariq's child too.
Mariam and Laila had sore relationship initially as Mariam used to feel replaced and unwanted because of Laila. Gradually, the bitterness of their relationship decreased. They came closer after the birth of Aziza- Laila's child. Meanwhile, Afghanistan was captured by the Taliban. The Taliban enforced very strict and illiberal rules. The rules snatched little freedom that Afghani women had previously.
Rasheed used to harass Mariam previously but he started the same with Laila too. One day both made a plan to escape from Rasheed's harassment. Unfortunately, their plan flopped and they got caught. Rasheed beat them like nothing. Laila and Mariam's days were passing in misery and abuse. Day by Day, Rasheed's behaviour became worst. On the other hand, this common emotional and physical trauma made Mariam's and Laila's bond stronger. They start to enjoy each other’s company. Meanwhile, Laila gave birth to Zalmai, child of Rasheed. Rasheed used to love Zalmai and ignore Aziza.
One fine morning, suddenly Tariq showed up. Laila couldn't believe her eyes. Her Tariq was alive. Rasheed made a fake story of his death. She was overwhelmed. They talked a lot as both were meeting after so many years. Mariam saw a new twinkle in Laila's eyes that day. Sadly on the same day, Rasheed came to know about Tariq. He started to beat Laila and Mariam. That was the only language he knew.
Mariam thought for a second and decided something on her own. She raised a shovel and banged it on Rasheed's head. Rasheed was dead. Laila was in shock. However, Mariam was unruffled. She held Laila's hand and told her to leave the country with Tariq. Her eyes were confident. She was not the same Marim who used to live in fear and used to suffer in silence. She was strong and determined.
Laila left Afganistan with Tariq and her children. They started their family. They were happy. However, both of them used to miss their birthplace. Finally, they decided to return to their country as the condition of Afganistan was alleviating.On the other hand, Mariam held accused of Rasheed's death and punished to death.However, she had no regret. It was the sensation of abundant peace that washed over her. She thought of her entry into this world, the harami child of a lowly villager, an unintended thing, a pitiable, regrettable accident. A weed. And yet she was leaving the world as a woman who had loved and been loved back. She was leaving it as a friend, a companion, a guardian. A mother. A person of consequence at last. It was not so bad that she was dying this way. This was a legitimate end to a life of illegitimate belongings. She left peacefully as the way she came. In peace.
On the return journey, Laila stopped by Herat to visit Mariam's house and tried to recollect her childhood memories. Laila and Tariq started school in Kabul. Laila became a teacher and finally fulfilled her father's dream of serving the nation. And when Laila became pregnant, she decided that if she will have a girl, she'll name her Mariam.
The story inspires many women to fight against violence in all impossible odds, in every hopeless situation like Laila and Mariam did. Fearlessly and passionately......
