Top Highlights

• “If you hold it in, it stays in. And then all sorts of bad things can happen to you.” “Like what?” “The worst thing that can happen? If you hold on to the pain for too long, you start to think you are this pain.” Mina studied me for a moment. “Do you understand, behta?” I nodded. What she was saying made sense to me. “And if you think you are this ...
• I knew one of them was Sunil and the other was Mina’s father, Rafiq, but at first, I couldn’t tell which one was which. And the similarities didn’t end there. Over tea at the kitchen table, I was surprised to discover that both of them had the same annoying habit of blinking a lot. No doubt it was a meaningless coincidence, but it left a troubling ...
• “Excuse me, gentlemen,” we heard, looking over to find a young blond man in white gloves and a tuxedo addressing us. “We’re expecting quite a few of you people, and we’d like to keep the lobby clear. The reception area is this way.” Father didn’t move. He just held the young man’s gaze. “A few of us people? What people, if you don’t mind my asking?...
• “So, Farhaz,” Mirza said. “Our young friend here is studying to be a hafiz.” “I know, Dad. Uncle Sunil told us. I’m not deaf.” The boy’s tone was surprisingly dismissive. His father didn’t look pleased, but instead of saying anything, Mirza just looked away.
• There was another silence. And then I said: “There’s something you don’t know, Auntie. Something I never told you.” “What is that?” “The telegram? To Hamed? That was me. I sent it.” “What?” Her eyes widened with surprise. There was silence. The answer to her long-unresolved question was taking some time to make sense. “But how did you…” I completed...