Laila

Laila, the second female protagonist, is the youngest child and only daughter of a well-educated teacher (Hakim) and a lamenting mother (Fariba) who isn't always in a good mood.

At age 15, Laila falls in love with Tariq, her best friend since childhood, but a civil war breaks loose which forces Tariq and his parents to flee to Pakistan. Days later, a rocket kills Laila's parents and wounds her, and Rasheed and Mariam nurse her back to health. Laila's idealism and independence are challenged when she decides to marry Rasheed in order to give her unborn child by Tariq a father.

Upon becoming a mother, Laila puts her children first and finds she is willing to accept limitations she once would have openly mocked. Through her growing relationship with Mariam, Laila not only takes comfort in having a friend and mother figure, but also begins to understand the sacrifices that are necessary to be a good mother by following Mariam's example.

Laila represents the new modern face of Afghanistan. Education has always been a priority in Laila's life since she always received encouragement from her parents to achieve her dreams, so she has a strong desire to use her intelligence to improve the world around her.

Laila's Timeline in Story:

(because she is quite the major character)

• Laila is a young girl who lives in Kabul with her parents. She spends most of her time with her best friend and love interest Tariq.
• After the war in Kabul worsens, Tariq's family decides to leave for Pakistan. Laila and Tariq make love the night before he leaves.
• Laila's family decides to leave soon after, but her parents are killed by a stray rocket before they can escape.
• Laila is saved by Rasheed. He makes her his second wife after Laila is told by a man named Abdul Sharif that Tariq is dead. Laila tricks Rasheed into thinking that she is pregnant with his child, when in fact she's pregnant with Tariq's baby.
• With time, Laila befriends Mariam, and the two of them try to escape to Pakistan with Laila's new daughter Aziza. They're caught by the police as they're boarding a bus and sent back to Rasheed.
• Laila eventually gives birth to a boy named Zalmai, who is most definitely Rasheed's son.
• Rasheed's shop burns down, throwing the family into poverty. He forces Laila to send Aziza to an orphanage to help save money.
• Laila visits Aziza frequently. After returning home from one of these visits, Laila is shocked to find Tariq standing at her doorstep.
• Laila learns that Rasheed had hired Abdul Sharif to convince her that Tariq had died. She tells Tariq about Aziza, and he promises to come back for her the following day.
• Rasheed finds out about Tariq's visit that night. He tries to kill Laila, but Mariam hits him in the head with a shovel, and he dies.
• Laila, Aziza, Zalmai, and Tariq go to Pakistan, where Tariq has a home and a job. They live in relative comfort, but Laila decides to return to Kabul after the U.S. invades Afghanistan. They stop in Gul Daman, Mariam's hometown, before returning to Kabul. 
• There, Laila visits Mariam's childhood home and is given a box that was meant for Mariam by a man named Hamza.
• Inside, Laila finds a few sentimental items, as well as Mariam's portion of her father's inheritance. She uses that money to fund the orphanage in Kabul, and she and Tariq help renovate the facilities.
• At the close of the novel, Laila reveals that she is pregnant.

Quotes:

"She would never leave her mark on Mammy's heart the way her brothers had, because Mammy's heart was like a pallid beach where Laila's footprints would forever wash away beneath the waves of sorrow that swelled and crashed."

(Part 2, Chapter 20, page 144- I feel bad she realized this)

"He slid closer to her and their hand brushed, once, then again. When Tariq's fingers tentatively began to slip into hers, Laila let them. And when suddenly he leaned over and pressed his lips to hers, she let him again."

(Part 2, Chapter 24, page 175- Ship...)

"All Laila could think of was the fullness of Tariq's lips, the heat of his breath on her mouth, her own reflection in his hazel eyes."

(Part 2, Chapter 24, page 178- SHIP..!)

"The more Tariq talked, the more Laila dreaded the moment he would stop."

(Part 3, Chapter 44, page 337)