Saving Kabul Corner by N. H. Senzai

Author:N. H. Senzai
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books

THE ONE PERSON ARIANA was dying to tell was Hava Bibi. After seeing her grandmother and Tofan Baba together at the fair, she thought that those two would take the kids seriously. After she and Laila got ready for bed that night, they headed downstairs for milk and cookies, hoping to talk to their grandmother. On their way down the phone rang, and Laila tensed, as she usually did when the shrill sound reverberated through the house. Ariana looked at her and gave her what she hoped was a calming smile.

“Hello?” said Jamil. After a minute he said, “And you are certain?” A long pause followed. “Yes, Sergeant Maxwell, I will convey the message to her.”

The girls stood, transfixed, a worried look spreading across Laila’s face as she clutched the locket at her throat. Getting a call from the army doesn’t sound good, thought ­Ariana, and she gave Laila’s hand a comforting squeeze.

They reached the bottom of the stairs as Jamil hurried out of the kitchen, rounded the corner, and disappeared into the garage, while calling out, “Mother, Nasreen, Zainab, please come into the garage.”

“What’s going on?” whispered Laila, her eyes a stormy jade.

“Don’t worry. We’ll find out,” said Ariana.

They were sitting in silence, dipping their cookies in milk, when they heard Nasreen call them into the living room ten minutes later. The adults were sitting against the cushions, their faces drawn.

“What happened?” Ariana burst out, not able to contain her growing anxiety.

Laila crept over to sit between her mother and Hava Bibi, while Ariana stood.

“It’s your father, jaan. He’s . . . ,” began Zainab Khala, her voice breaking.

Hava Bibi gently interrupted while hugging Laila. “There was battle near Jalalabad,” she said, her voice oddly upbeat. “You father’s battalion came across a group of Taliban soldiers, and during the fight Hamza got separated from the rest of his troops.”

“But they found him, right?” asked Laila.

“No, sweetheart,” said Zainab Khala, wiping her eyes with her shawl. “They did a perimeter search, but they haven’t found him yet.”

“Is he . . . dead?” whispered Laila.

“No, no . . . ,” said Nasreen, trailing off.

Ariana knew what she meant. If Uncle Hamza was dead, they’d have found his body.

“Sergeant Maxwell is very hopeful that he’ll be found soon,” said Jamil. “They think Hamza has found a hiding spot, and when things calm down, he’ll find his way back.”

“Now, I know you cannot help but worry,” said Hava Bibi. “But pray to Allah that he returns safe and unharmed.”

Laila nodded, her movements jerky.

“I’m going to make some phone calls,” said Jamil. “Maybe some of our friends have contacts in that area that can help.”

The women got up to make tea, and Ariana, not knowing how to make Laila feel better, grabbed her hand and guided her into the garage. They’d do something that always calmed Ariana down.

“Maybe he was taken hostage,” muttered Laila.

“Don’t think the worst,” Ariana said, patting Laila’s back as she settled her at her father’s desk.

As she reached for the origami box, her gaze fell on her calendar.

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