Summary
Born out of wed-lock to a maid and a wealthy businessman, Mariam lived her whole life as an outcast, unwanted by her own father, a harami. When her mother commits suicide, Mariam (15 years old) is forced to move in with her father, who quickly shuns her away and sends her off to be married to a much older man, Rasheed. In the same neighbourhood that Mariam moved in with her husband, a new baby girl named Laila was born.
Years later, Laila falls in love with her childhood best friend, Tariq. However, when things in Kabul start to really hit a rough patch Tariq and his family are forced to take refuge in Pakistan. Consumed by fear, Laila’s family decide to flee Afghanistan as well. They do not make it so far before their house is bombed, and teenaged Laila is left an orphan with no one to look after her.
Rasheed and his barren wife, Mariam, find Laila and slowly help her back up. Too soon, Rasheed asks Laila’s hand in marriage and she agrees with no hesitance, so as to keep her little secret from exposing.
Together the two women struggle to face the hardships of being born a female; from being abused by their husband and the Taliban, to being denied basic civil rights.
SPOILER:
Nearing the end of the story Laila is once again reunited with Tariq, who has come back to find her. Later, Rasheed's son accidentally lets it slip that he saw his mom and man named Tariq together. Rasheed's madness consumes him and he almost kills Laila and Mariam before Mariam kills him instead in self-defense.
