And the Mountains Echoed
And the Mountains Echoed
By
My Rating: 5
Genre: Historical Fiction
Finished On: 25th Aug, 2014
And The Mountains Echoed.
By the ever-heart-breaking-in-fact-heart-twisting-genius-author, Khaled Hosseini.
Yes, Khaled Hosseini.
I was dying to read this book ever since it was released. I remember in the mall I randomly entered the bookstore and there it was, a pile of mountain containing the books 'And The Mountains Echoed'. Nobody can ever tell how impatient I was to steal that book, clutching tightly in my hands hiding in some corner and start reading it. But, unfortunately, I was out of money that time.
However, this review is gonna take long so now after a year, I somehow started this book, finished it minutes ago, and here goes my review.
From the start
Khaled began the book with a short story about div, jinns, etc . I was fascinated from the start. Thought, "Oh, this seems interesting. Maybe Khaled realized that it doesn't do good to keep breaking fragile heart of the readers and began the story with a cute beginning.." until I came at the part..
A finger cut to save the hand .
I knew it then. This story is gonna break me somehow. Somehow it would, although I just started reading it. Of course, Its Khaled Hosseini!
And It did.
The first chapter ended, and I discovered the main characters, Abdullah, Pari, and their father. I loved the way Pari had called her brother 'Abollah!', and I honestly swear if I were in the book I would have crushed her ribs by hugging her tight. Such a tiny , sweet fairy, just like her name.
They had lost their mother, and had a step-one, Parwana. And a step-brother, Iqbal.
They were on a journey, the siblings with the father. To the town, for meeting Parwana's brother, Nabi. I deeply thought he might turn into a villain at first.
But.. well, I don't know what to say.
This book - as I read from the 'about' section - is about life of different people in different parts of the world. Then I knew this story won't be highlighted upon Abdullah and Pari itself, but others too. And well, idiotic it might sound, but I was right.
The meeting with Nabi was a bit weird. Two more characters were introduced, Nila Wahdati, and her husband, Suleiman Wahdati. From their description I knew something was fishy. There wasn't any affection between the couple, and deep inside my heart I predicted that fishiness was related to Pari. [As on the journey, the father wasn' agreein' to take Abdullah with him, but just Pari. And I hate my predictions so much that It turned out to be true, the fishiness I mean] . Few paragraph's later we discovered that Pari was being given to the Wahdati's. [I didn't knew the reason why then] Just understood it was kind of a deal. As the father's poverty won't be able to nourish his children. And there you go, A finger cut to save the hand .
I was surprised at first. Like WHAT. They both are siblings! You can't just separate them from each other! He's her brother whom she called, 'Abollah!', a dog who runs and wags his tail as soon as Pari is around him! A father who dearly loves her! The siblings collected feathers together!
But, a finger was cut to save the hand.
A couple of pages were written representing Abdullah's situation. How he remembers Pari crying and fighting in Nabi's arms when she realized she wasn't returning home at all and how Abdullah was fighting in his father's arms, how helpless the father's expression had been. I just stared at the words imagining the scene and cursing the author. And kept hoping.. hoping they would meet soon. Days later, weeks later, okay fine, months later!
I'm laughing while typing this now.
Khaled just wants to ruin our hearts. And knows how to ruin them too.
The story shifted to the Wahdati's now. Sadly I discovered as Pari was growing up she soon forgot her previous family and adopted Wahdati's as her family now. Called Nila Wahdati her 'Maman' and Suleiman Wahdati her 'Baba'. I forgo the thought of siblings ever meeting each other again. What's the use?
Pari doesn't remember who even Abdullah was now. I was glad for this that they loved Pari as she should be loved. And I also discovered why Pari was even adopted by them. All gratitude towards Nabi's letter to Markos [Another character].
Nabi had loved Nila. And when he realized how lonely Nila felt because of her incapability to have children he got this awesome idea to let his sister's step-daughter get sacrificed! But he did pay for it later. When Pari came in Nila's life she forgot Nabi. Forgot everything and focused on her newly blessed adopted daughter. Further the pages were turned by me until I came to the part, where Suleiman gets a stroke and is now kinda paralyzed. I already knew there was less affection between the couple. As the marriage itself was kind of a deal. Nila wanted a life full of enjoyment and his husband full of discipline.
However, I still love the fact that they both loved Pari as she should be loved by any Parent. Until.. She packs her suitcase, takes her daughter and leaves her paralyzed husband in the hands of Nabi and takes her flight for Paris. How shameful.
We discovered later that Suleiman Wahdati never loved his wife, but Nabi. He loved Nabi. This was a surprise both to me and for Nabi. Poor him he decides to leave the house. But the house, and his daily chores for Suleiman and everything made him stick to it. He serves him for years. Until, Suleiman breathes his last and hands over his abundant property to Nabi.
Markos comes later as a plastic surgeon to Kabul with the introduction of new characters, Amra, Idris, Tumur, etc . Nabi was too old when they visited Kabul, after all the war with Taliban. It brought tears to my eyes thinking Nabi sticked with Suleiman during the war when he could have moved out of town and saved his life. But, no he stick to him :') The charm of Wahdati's house was gone. And all this stuff written in the letter was supposed to be read after the death of Nabi. Where his last wish was to hand over the property he had, to Pari. He also wanted Markos to find her wherever she was and tell her about the adoption, her actual family, and the property. Pari. The four letters give a twist to my heart. Probably the moment Markos was reading that Nabi had already breathed his last, and Pari would be in late sixties. Abdullah in late seventies. Both having their own kids, and probably grand kids. Were they even Alive?
The story shifts a bit to Parwana's life in between. Her life before getting married to Abdullah's father. She loved him, as it seemed from the beginning. When they were kids. And she had a twin too, Masooma. Wait, a twin? She isn't mentioned in the further story after the marriage with Saboor, Abdulla's father. So where is she now? Oh, well.
It seems that Masooma is prettier than Parwana and everybody loves her rather Parwana. Which was sad. Because Masooma kinda had become self-conscious alot and self-obsessed too. And nobody were givin' a damn about Parwana. She was just an ugly boring kid who was unwanted when the twins were born. It was time for Saboor to get married. And Masooma was excited that Saboor is gonna choose her as everybody loved her, so why not Saboor?
That broke Parwana's heart. She didn't care if the world hated her, but, yeah, If Saboor loved Masooma over Parwana was a thing to be broken for. This conversation was going when they both were seated in a high branch of an oak tree.
The next moment was surprising but kinda predictable. Parwana did it voluntarily or not, I do not know, but she pressed her hands on the branch and jumped a little, which took Masooma off guard, and she didn't even had control over her arms for a support - as she was looking for something in the pocket to show Parwana , as a proof to be getting married by Saboor - and fell. Yes, she fell. About how many feet I can't give a guess, but enough to break her legs and snatching the power of her to ever walk again. The scene was beautifully described by Khaled there. The slow motion.. I absolutely felt I witnessed the whole scene. Parwana realizing her twin falling, Parwana screaming and giving her hand to her twin, Masooma trying to grab her twin's arm, but failing.. Realizing she is actually falling, the expression, the increasing acceleration of the fall, and at last, the thud.
People gathered around, screaming, shouting her name, begging her to regain consciousness until they realized Masooma's some hand was tighly shut. As if something was present there and she protected it while falling. They forcefully opened - There is a story told by Saboor's father that if you wish something standing under the oak tree, you'll know it will get true when the tree sheds exactly ten leaves upon you - and found ten leaves in her hand.
Parwana silently watched that scene, as she realized those leaves were that proof Masooma was talking, about getting married to Saboor.
Parwana became like her brother Nabi, taking care of her twin as he took care of Suleiman. I actually thought Masooma had died. But of course Khaled might have listened to my thought. Pretty few pages later, Masooma had a wish to visit Kabul. [Its years later now] And Parwana kept carrying her.
Masooma made Parwana stop as she realized how Parwana had suffered all her life, because of her. Emotionally and mentally. She asked her to vow that she would take care of Saboor's kids and marry him. Parwana knew what she was talking about and refused. But Masooma managed to convince her.
Convince her to go on with her life, leave her in the middle of that dessert, nobody would know what happened, and she can live her life peacefully again.
Parwana starts walking, after few steps she hears a scream, she closes her eyes forcefully - as if that would stop the screams :P - and moves on.
She doesn't turn back.
So from this we know the story of Nabi, Parwana and Masooma.
The story shifts to Timur, Idris and Markos.
From Timur's and Idris story I discovered they were Wahdati's neighbors and fled from Kabul when the war had started, and returned ages later to find the remains. It was a touchy part until it got more touchier when he - Idris - meets Roshi, a little victim in the hospital.. I won't describe in detail else I might start crying, but later when Roshi is finally cured and her books are getting published in San Francisco , It was unbearable when Roshi writes on top of Idris's book "Don't worry, you aren't in it". Because he was ashamed of not being able to help her when he could!
However, Timur's story has one important part.
We discover that Abdullah, yes he finally appears here, has shifted to San Francisco, with the Timur's financial help he set up his own restaurant and ran it.
We discover he has a wife, and a daughter, named Pari.
Pari .
I broke down for five minutes. HEDIDNTFORGETHER. All those years! She was in his mind! And heart. Oh, Abollah!
Soon, abruptly Timur's and Idris's story ends too. In between there is a short continuation where it was mentioned about Iqbal when he gets killed. What pains me that he suffers so much financially because of these wars, and he didn't get to meet Abdullah and Pari either. And Iqbal's children's situation isn't mentioned further either.
Maybe they got killed too, if they did, then its shameful to say, but, I would have been content. All they had suffered..
I hate wars. And he was killed by a brutal killer who pretended to be good to the world- well, town- and din't give a damn about poor and helpless people. I didn't like that part at all. Oh, Iqbal..
So Parwana, Saboor and Iqbal weren't any more. It was time for me to find out about Pari.
She lived peacefully with Nila in Paris, but not that much either. Nila smoked a lot and loved her youth. Somehow to make a long story short, Nila suicides because she can't handle her youth, and can't handle Pari either. Days before killing herself she gives Pari a hint that she isn't totally Nila's daughter.
Making Pari restless. She somehow knew it deep down to her heart that she was adopted. But now she wanted to confirm. She gets married and have plans to go Kabul, but isn't successful. She has kids and well grand kids. Yes, she is old now. Her husband dies of a heart stroke, leaving Pari alone.
Idk why Khaled does these things to us. I wanted to sob reading these parts. Later when she is too old, she receives a call from Markos, about the letter, and knew it all from him. Everything. She starts having glimpses of few things, a barking of a dog, a hand always in hers, a brothers hand.
And then, silently weeping she looks in front of her, stretching her hands saying, "Oh, brother".
Story shifts to Markos. I discover why Markos was a Plastic surgeon, because of his sister, Thalia. Well, adopted sister, left alone by her mother Madeliene because of carrying her daughter who had a huge scar, rather an absence of a Jaw because her evil dad's dog had bit it off. Markos retreated from her at first, thinking she was a monster, until when he spent time with her realized how precious she was. They both don't marry. Thalia takes care of Markos's mother Odie, while he was studying about Plastic Surgeries. Despite learning even after years Thalia didn't permit him to treat her, as she wanted the world to accept that's who she is. And wanted the world to recognize by that face. Anyway, it was too cute. Another story in the Island Of Greece with another perspective. Khaled describes situation of people in this chapter too. And my heart, as always it is while reading his books, kept being numb.
Markos's story ends here, with his mother, him and Thalia happily enjoying the eclipse outside their house.
Now the final chapter. Pari meets Pari.
The chapter I was waiting for.
The book began with Pari and now it ends with Pari. Two Pari's in fact.
Firstly Pari Wahdati visits Kabul and sells that house taking few belongings which were her childhoods and longed for meeting Abdullah. She goes to Shadbagh and finds the village totally transformed. Ultimately she finds out that Iqbal can't be found, I think she understood that part, and somehow finds a source to find Abdullah.
She finds him.
Pari meets Pari.
They both are in tears. Abdullah's daughter Pari describes how he didn't forget her each passing day of his life. And describes how they had spent their life all along. After Pari's mother passes away, Abdullah is alone now. Just like how Pari was alone without Eric, her husband.
The most sad part was the absence of his wife made him so.. so.. that his physical condition started deteriorating. He started forgetting things.
And when Pari Wahdati meets him, her brother. He doesn't remember her either. Pari reassures her that its because of his health.
Pari makes him sing the rhyme his mother had taught them. Surprisingly when he sings the first verse, Pari Wahdati remembers the rest. Resulting in making Abdullah sense something that she is special.
However, that doesn't seem last. She does spents quite her time there, Pari Wahdati and the other Pari realize its time to send Abdullah to nursing home, at least until Pari goes and visit Paris with the other Pari to meet her cousins.
They go. While cleaning the house up, Pari discovers a package from her father addressed to his sister. Surprised she saves that for Pari herself to read it.
In the final pages of the book when she reads it. It was in Farsi so Pari translates it for her aunt. It was his final words for his sister before being diagnosed with his disease - guess he knew he is gonna forget her soon. With the words he leaves behind a jar in which were kept feathers.
Feathers.
Feathers .
He saved it after all these years. Pari Wahdati didn't knew what that meant, but it was enough for her to be proved by him that he loved her dearly all his life. Until the memory of hers faded within his brain.
Pari Wahdati silently weeps for the love her brother had for her. And her heart leaps with her own love for him.
Long lost love reunites back in the last lines of the book when the daughter Pari closes her eyes, and dreams two kids, a boy and a girl lying down together in the grass, in their own pool of happiness in their own little paradise.
P.S - Took 2 and a half hours for this review. And yet, even after spilling my feelings out in this, my heart is STILL, numb Mr. Hosseini, still numb.
P.S.S - If there is anything wrong in this review, do notify me. Because there might be .5% chance that I might have imagined few things myself while reading something and typed it down here, so!
By the ever-heart-breaking-in-fact-heart-twisting-genius-author, Khaled Hosseini.
Yes, Khaled Hosseini.
I was dying to read this book ever since it was released. I remember in the mall I randomly entered the bookstore and there it was, a pile of mountain containing the books 'And The Mountains Echoed'. Nobody can ever tell how impatient I was to steal that book, clutching tightly in my hands hiding in some corner and start reading it. But, unfortunately, I was out of money that time.
However, this review is gonna take long so now after a year, I somehow started this book, finished it minutes ago, and here goes my review.
From the start
Khaled began the book with a short story about div, jinns, etc . I was fascinated from the start. Thought, "Oh, this seems interesting. Maybe Khaled realized that it doesn't do good to keep breaking fragile heart of the readers and began the story with a cute beginning.." until I came at the part..
A finger cut to save the hand .
I knew it then. This story is gonna break me somehow. Somehow it would, although I just started reading it. Of course, Its Khaled Hosseini!
And It did.
The first chapter ended, and I discovered the main characters, Abdullah, Pari, and their father. I loved the way Pari had called her brother 'Abollah!', and I honestly swear if I were in the book I would have crushed her ribs by hugging her tight. Such a tiny , sweet fairy, just like her name.
They had lost their mother, and had a step-one, Parwana. And a step-brother, Iqbal.
They were on a journey, the siblings with the father. To the town, for meeting Parwana's brother, Nabi. I deeply thought he might turn into a villain at first.
But.. well, I don't know what to say.
This book - as I read from the 'about' section - is about life of different people in different parts of the world. Then I knew this story won't be highlighted upon Abdullah and Pari itself, but others too. And well, idiotic it might sound, but I was right.
The meeting with Nabi was a bit weird. Two more characters were introduced, Nila Wahdati, and her husband, Suleiman Wahdati. From their description I knew something was fishy. There wasn't any affection between the couple, and deep inside my heart I predicted that fishiness was related to Pari. [As on the journey, the father wasn' agreein' to take Abdullah with him, but just Pari. And I hate my predictions so much that It turned out to be true, the fishiness I mean] . Few paragraph's later we discovered that Pari was being given to the Wahdati's. [I didn't knew the reason why then] Just understood it was kind of a deal. As the father's poverty won't be able to nourish his children. And there you go, A finger cut to save the hand .
I was surprised at first. Like WHAT. They both are siblings! You can't just separate them from each other! He's her brother whom she called, 'Abollah!', a dog who runs and wags his tail as soon as Pari is around him! A father who dearly loves her! The siblings collected feathers together!
But, a finger was cut to save the hand.
A couple of pages were written representing Abdullah's situation. How he remembers Pari crying and fighting in Nabi's arms when she realized she wasn't returning home at all and how Abdullah was fighting in his father's arms, how helpless the father's expression had been. I just stared at the words imagining the scene and cursing the author. And kept hoping.. hoping they would meet soon. Days later, weeks later, okay fine, months later!
I'm laughing while typing this now.
Khaled just wants to ruin our hearts. And knows how to ruin them too.
The story shifted to the Wahdati's now. Sadly I discovered as Pari was growing up she soon forgot her previous family and adopted Wahdati's as her family now. Called Nila Wahdati her 'Maman' and Suleiman Wahdati her 'Baba'. I forgo the thought of siblings ever meeting each other again. What's the use?
Pari doesn't remember who even Abdullah was now. I was glad for this that they loved Pari as she should be loved. And I also discovered why Pari was even adopted by them. All gratitude towards Nabi's letter to Markos [Another character].
Nabi had loved Nila. And when he realized how lonely Nila felt because of her incapability to have children he got this awesome idea to let his sister's step-daughter get sacrificed! But he did pay for it later. When Pari came in Nila's life she forgot Nabi. Forgot everything and focused on her newly blessed adopted daughter. Further the pages were turned by me until I came to the part, where Suleiman gets a stroke and is now kinda paralyzed. I already knew there was less affection between the couple. As the marriage itself was kind of a deal. Nila wanted a life full of enjoyment and his husband full of discipline.
However, I still love the fact that they both loved Pari as she should be loved by any Parent. Until.. She packs her suitcase, takes her daughter and leaves her paralyzed husband in the hands of Nabi and takes her flight for Paris. How shameful.
We discovered later that Suleiman Wahdati never loved his wife, but Nabi. He loved Nabi. This was a surprise both to me and for Nabi. Poor him he decides to leave the house. But the house, and his daily chores for Suleiman and everything made him stick to it. He serves him for years. Until, Suleiman breathes his last and hands over his abundant property to Nabi.
Markos comes later as a plastic surgeon to Kabul with the introduction of new characters, Amra, Idris, Tumur, etc . Nabi was too old when they visited Kabul, after all the war with Taliban. It brought tears to my eyes thinking Nabi sticked with Suleiman during the war when he could have moved out of town and saved his life. But, no he stick to him :') The charm of Wahdati's house was gone. And all this stuff written in the letter was supposed to be read after the death of Nabi. Where his last wish was to hand over the property he had, to Pari. He also wanted Markos to find her wherever she was and tell her about the adoption, her actual family, and the property. Pari. The four letters give a twist to my heart. Probably the moment Markos was reading that Nabi had already breathed his last, and Pari would be in late sixties. Abdullah in late seventies. Both having their own kids, and probably grand kids. Were they even Alive?
The story shifts a bit to Parwana's life in between. Her life before getting married to Abdullah's father. She loved him, as it seemed from the beginning. When they were kids. And she had a twin too, Masooma. Wait, a twin? She isn't mentioned in the further story after the marriage with Saboor, Abdulla's father. So where is she now? Oh, well.
It seems that Masooma is prettier than Parwana and everybody loves her rather Parwana. Which was sad. Because Masooma kinda had become self-conscious alot and self-obsessed too. And nobody were givin' a damn about Parwana. She was just an ugly boring kid who was unwanted when the twins were born. It was time for Saboor to get married. And Masooma was excited that Saboor is gonna choose her as everybody loved her, so why not Saboor?
That broke Parwana's heart. She didn't care if the world hated her, but, yeah, If Saboor loved Masooma over Parwana was a thing to be broken for. This conversation was going when they both were seated in a high branch of an oak tree.
The next moment was surprising but kinda predictable. Parwana did it voluntarily or not, I do not know, but she pressed her hands on the branch and jumped a little, which took Masooma off guard, and she didn't even had control over her arms for a support - as she was looking for something in the pocket to show Parwana , as a proof to be getting married by Saboor - and fell. Yes, she fell. About how many feet I can't give a guess, but enough to break her legs and snatching the power of her to ever walk again. The scene was beautifully described by Khaled there. The slow motion.. I absolutely felt I witnessed the whole scene. Parwana realizing her twin falling, Parwana screaming and giving her hand to her twin, Masooma trying to grab her twin's arm, but failing.. Realizing she is actually falling, the expression, the increasing acceleration of the fall, and at last, the thud.
People gathered around, screaming, shouting her name, begging her to regain consciousness until they realized Masooma's some hand was tighly shut. As if something was present there and she protected it while falling. They forcefully opened - There is a story told by Saboor's father that if you wish something standing under the oak tree, you'll know it will get true when the tree sheds exactly ten leaves upon you - and found ten leaves in her hand.
Parwana silently watched that scene, as she realized those leaves were that proof Masooma was talking, about getting married to Saboor.
Parwana became like her brother Nabi, taking care of her twin as he took care of Suleiman. I actually thought Masooma had died. But of course Khaled might have listened to my thought. Pretty few pages later, Masooma had a wish to visit Kabul. [Its years later now] And Parwana kept carrying her.
Masooma made Parwana stop as she realized how Parwana had suffered all her life, because of her. Emotionally and mentally. She asked her to vow that she would take care of Saboor's kids and marry him. Parwana knew what she was talking about and refused. But Masooma managed to convince her.
Convince her to go on with her life, leave her in the middle of that dessert, nobody would know what happened, and she can live her life peacefully again.
Parwana starts walking, after few steps she hears a scream, she closes her eyes forcefully - as if that would stop the screams :P - and moves on.
She doesn't turn back.
So from this we know the story of Nabi, Parwana and Masooma.
The story shifts to Timur, Idris and Markos.
From Timur's and Idris story I discovered they were Wahdati's neighbors and fled from Kabul when the war had started, and returned ages later to find the remains. It was a touchy part until it got more touchier when he - Idris - meets Roshi, a little victim in the hospital.. I won't describe in detail else I might start crying, but later when Roshi is finally cured and her books are getting published in San Francisco , It was unbearable when Roshi writes on top of Idris's book "Don't worry, you aren't in it". Because he was ashamed of not being able to help her when he could!
However, Timur's story has one important part.
We discover that Abdullah, yes he finally appears here, has shifted to San Francisco, with the Timur's financial help he set up his own restaurant and ran it.
We discover he has a wife, and a daughter, named Pari.
Pari .
I broke down for five minutes. HEDIDNTFORGETHER. All those years! She was in his mind! And heart. Oh, Abollah!
Soon, abruptly Timur's and Idris's story ends too. In between there is a short continuation where it was mentioned about Iqbal when he gets killed. What pains me that he suffers so much financially because of these wars, and he didn't get to meet Abdullah and Pari either. And Iqbal's children's situation isn't mentioned further either.
Maybe they got killed too, if they did, then its shameful to say, but, I would have been content. All they had suffered..
I hate wars. And he was killed by a brutal killer who pretended to be good to the world- well, town- and din't give a damn about poor and helpless people. I didn't like that part at all. Oh, Iqbal..
So Parwana, Saboor and Iqbal weren't any more. It was time for me to find out about Pari.
She lived peacefully with Nila in Paris, but not that much either. Nila smoked a lot and loved her youth. Somehow to make a long story short, Nila suicides because she can't handle her youth, and can't handle Pari either. Days before killing herself she gives Pari a hint that she isn't totally Nila's daughter.
Making Pari restless. She somehow knew it deep down to her heart that she was adopted. But now she wanted to confirm. She gets married and have plans to go Kabul, but isn't successful. She has kids and well grand kids. Yes, she is old now. Her husband dies of a heart stroke, leaving Pari alone.
Idk why Khaled does these things to us. I wanted to sob reading these parts. Later when she is too old, she receives a call from Markos, about the letter, and knew it all from him. Everything. She starts having glimpses of few things, a barking of a dog, a hand always in hers, a brothers hand.
And then, silently weeping she looks in front of her, stretching her hands saying, "Oh, brother".
Story shifts to Markos. I discover why Markos was a Plastic surgeon, because of his sister, Thalia. Well, adopted sister, left alone by her mother Madeliene because of carrying her daughter who had a huge scar, rather an absence of a Jaw because her evil dad's dog had bit it off. Markos retreated from her at first, thinking she was a monster, until when he spent time with her realized how precious she was. They both don't marry. Thalia takes care of Markos's mother Odie, while he was studying about Plastic Surgeries. Despite learning even after years Thalia didn't permit him to treat her, as she wanted the world to accept that's who she is. And wanted the world to recognize by that face. Anyway, it was too cute. Another story in the Island Of Greece with another perspective. Khaled describes situation of people in this chapter too. And my heart, as always it is while reading his books, kept being numb.
Markos's story ends here, with his mother, him and Thalia happily enjoying the eclipse outside their house.
Now the final chapter. Pari meets Pari.
The chapter I was waiting for.
The book began with Pari and now it ends with Pari. Two Pari's in fact.
Firstly Pari Wahdati visits Kabul and sells that house taking few belongings which were her childhoods and longed for meeting Abdullah. She goes to Shadbagh and finds the village totally transformed. Ultimately she finds out that Iqbal can't be found, I think she understood that part, and somehow finds a source to find Abdullah.
She finds him.
Pari meets Pari.
They both are in tears. Abdullah's daughter Pari describes how he didn't forget her each passing day of his life. And describes how they had spent their life all along. After Pari's mother passes away, Abdullah is alone now. Just like how Pari was alone without Eric, her husband.
The most sad part was the absence of his wife made him so.. so.. that his physical condition started deteriorating. He started forgetting things.
And when Pari Wahdati meets him, her brother. He doesn't remember her either. Pari reassures her that its because of his health.
Pari makes him sing the rhyme his mother had taught them. Surprisingly when he sings the first verse, Pari Wahdati remembers the rest. Resulting in making Abdullah sense something that she is special.
However, that doesn't seem last. She does spents quite her time there, Pari Wahdati and the other Pari realize its time to send Abdullah to nursing home, at least until Pari goes and visit Paris with the other Pari to meet her cousins.
They go. While cleaning the house up, Pari discovers a package from her father addressed to his sister. Surprised she saves that for Pari herself to read it.
In the final pages of the book when she reads it. It was in Farsi so Pari translates it for her aunt. It was his final words for his sister before being diagnosed with his disease - guess he knew he is gonna forget her soon. With the words he leaves behind a jar in which were kept feathers.
Feathers.
Feathers .
He saved it after all these years. Pari Wahdati didn't knew what that meant, but it was enough for her to be proved by him that he loved her dearly all his life. Until the memory of hers faded within his brain.
Pari Wahdati silently weeps for the love her brother had for her. And her heart leaps with her own love for him.
Long lost love reunites back in the last lines of the book when the daughter Pari closes her eyes, and dreams two kids, a boy and a girl lying down together in the grass, in their own pool of happiness in their own little paradise.
P.S - Took 2 and a half hours for this review. And yet, even after spilling my feelings out in this, my heart is STILL, numb Mr. Hosseini, still numb.
P.S.S - If there is anything wrong in this review, do notify me. Because there might be .5% chance that I might have imagined few things myself while reading something and typed it down here, so!
Words: 2259
Chars: 16468
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