Fariba

Utterly destroyed by her sons' decision to go to war and then both of their deaths as a result of it, Fariba is a distant mother to Laila — although once she was an "exuberant presence" in her community.

Quotes:

"The walls of Mammy's room were covered with pictures of Ahmad and Noor. Everywhere Laila looked, two strangers smiled back."

(Part 2, Chapter 17, page 122)

"Laila peeked from the top of the stairs. She watched the stranger sit down with her parents. He leaned towards them. Said a few muted words. Then Babi's face was white, and getting whiter, and he was looking at his hands, and Mammy was screaming, screaming, and tearing out her hair."

(Part 2, Chapter 19, page 137)

"I listen to the clock ticking in the hallway. Then I think of all the ticks, all the minutes, all the hours and days and weeks and months and years waiting for me. All of it without them. And I can't breathe then, like someone is stepping on my heart, Laila. I get so weak. So weak I just want to collapse somewhere."

(Part 2, Chapter 20, page 143)

"I won't lie to you, I've thought about it since too. But, no. Don't worry, Laila. I want to see my sons' dream come true. I want to see the day the Soviets go home disgraced, the day the Mujahideen come to Kabul in victory. I want to be there when it happens, when Afghanistan is free, so the boys see it too. They'll see it through my eyes."

(Part 2, Chapter 20, page 144)

"When Babi was done speaking, he grew quiet. They both did. They knew that Mammy wasn't going anywhere."

(Part 2, Chapter 21, page 151)