【】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>