ls,shakinghandsandgreetingthegueststhegeneralstillinhisgraysuitandbabaerasinrespectfulhushedtones
thegeneralheldatarlengthandsledkno”esonthecheek
thegeneralandhishinghadgrotleragged,andhekept
elookingathindnagedastrainedgrinillright,”heuthed
inkeepinghtradition,sorayapresent
afeontsofslltalkandidleequietandeveryonelookeddotheirhandsinrespectthegeneralnoddedtowardbaba
babailajanitsilitythatsonandihaveetoyourhotodayyouarehonorablepeoplefroistinguishedandreputablefaliesandproudlineageieostihtiraandthehighestregardsforyou,yourfalynas,andtheryofyouranyonlyeihopeheprovesirjanandandaily”
thegeneralnoddedpolitely
“ansuily,”hesaid“yourreputationpreirerinkabulandreinsotodayilyandourswillbejoined
“arjan,asforyou,ieyoutohoasason,asthehusbandofdaughteryeyeyourpaioseeyourkhalajalaandasasendsetofparents,andiprayforyourandourlovelysorayajanshappinessyoubothhaveourblessings”
everyoneapplauded,andontidedfor
sorayaappearedattheenddressedinastunningngsbabashandtookneandtightenedkhanuaheriburstintofreshtearssloalerelatives
shekissedfathershandssatbesideatlast,hereyesdo
theapplauseswelled
ailyentpartytheshirinikhorior“eatingofthesonythenanengagentperiodonthsthenthehwouldbepaidforbybaba
hatsorayaandionthstolive
sorayaandineverarriedyet,hadntevenhadashirinikhori,itpropersoihadtokedosorayaatthedinnertableigineit
ychest,sllherhairkissherkelovetoher
babaspent35,000,nearlythebalanontthenfroabulandgavehisubstantialdisuntbabapaidfortheatytuxedo,andtraditionalgreensuitforthenikathesonyforallthefrenziedpreparationsthatostofit,blessedly,bykhanuaheriandherfriendsireeronlyahandfulofntsfrot
ireerouikae,andseveralofsorayasuntaherisbrother,stoodupandethathehadlivedintheusforrethantericanallndedicatedtosoraya,jotteddoedwhenhefinished
ireerytuxedo,sorayaaveiledpanine,thegeneralandhisadeourerasoneofsorayasusins,sharifjansson,heldakoranoverourheadsasthespeakers,thesasongtherussiansoldieratthehiparcheckpointhadsungthenightbabaandileftkabul:
keingintoakeyandthrointothewell,
gosloylovelyon,goslooingsunforgettoriseintheeast,gosloylovelyon,goslowly
ireersittingonthesofa,setonthestagelikeathrone,sorayashandinne,asthreehundredorsofaontaryprivaedonhercheeks
ipieersendanberkhanhere
andireerarriedandifso,irrorundertheveiledhandshadheheld
around2a,thepartyvedfrohebanquetha
