the kite runner-第48章

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opped。　Someone　turned　off　the　music。
Khanum　Taheri　opened　the　door。　　_Salaam　alaykum_；　　she　said；　beaming。　She　d　permed　her　hair；　I　saw；　and　wore　an　elegant；　ankle…length　black　dress。　When　I　stepped　into　the　foyer；　her　eyes　moistened。　　You　re　barely　in　the　house　and　I　m　crying　already；　Amir　jan；　　she　said。　I　planted　a　kiss　on　her　hand；　just　as　Baba　had　instructed　me　to　do　the　night　before。
She　led　us　through　a　brightly　lit　hallway　to　the　living　room。　On　the　wood…paneled　walls；　I　saw　pictures　of　the　people　who　would　bee　my　new　family：　A　young　bouffant…haired　Khanum　Taheri　and　the　general……Niagara　Falls　in　the　background；　Khanum　Taheri　in　a　seamless　dress；　the　general　in　a　narrow…lapelled　jacket　and　thin　tie；　his　hair　full　and　black；　Soraya；　about　to　board　a　wooden　roller　coaster；　waving　and　smiling；　the　sun　glinting　off　the　silver　wires　in　her　teeth。　A　photo　of　the　general；　dashing　in　full　military　outfit；　shaking　hands　with　King　Hussein　of　Jordan。　A　portrait　of　Zahir　Shah。
The　living　room　was　packed　with　about　two　dozen　guests　seated　on　chairs　placed　along　the　walls。　When　Baba　entered；　everybody　stood　up。　We　went　around　the　room；　Baba　leading　slowly；　me　behind　him；　shaking　hands　and　greeting　the　guests。　The　general……still　in　his　gray　suit……and　Baba　embraced；　gently　tapping　each　other　on　the　back。　They　said　their　Salaams　in　respectful　hushed　tones。
The　general　held　me　at　arm　s　length　and　smiled　knowingly；　as　if　saying；　　Now；　this　is　the　right　way……the　Afghan　way……to　do　it；　_bachem_。　　We　kissed　three　times　on　the　cheek。
We　sat　in　the　crowded　room；　Baba　and　I　next　to　each　other；　across　from　the　general　and　his　wife。　Baba　s　breathing　had　grown　a　little　ragged；　and　he　kept
wiping　sweat　off　his　forehead　and　scalp　with　his　handkerchief。　He　saw　me　looking　at　him　and　managed　a　strained　grin。　I　m　all　right；　　he　mouthed。
In　keeping　with　tradition；　Soraya　was　not　present。
A　few　moments　of　small　talk　and　idle　chatter　followed　until　the　general　cleared　his　throat。　The　room　became　quiet　and　everyone　looked　down　at　their　hands　in　respect。　The　general　nodded　toward　Baba。
Baba　cleared　his　own　throat。　When　he　began；　he　couldn　t　speak　in　plete　sentences　without　stopping　to　breathe。　　General　Sahib；　Khanum　Jamila　jan。。。　it　s　with　great　humility　that　my　son　and　I。。。　have　e　to　your　home　today。　You　are。。。　honorable　people。。。　from　distinguished　and　reputable　families　and。。。　proud　lineage。　I　e　with　nothing　but　the　utmost　ihtiram。。。　and　the　highest　regards　for　you；　your　family　names；　and　the　memory。。。　of　your　ancestors。　　He　stopped。　Caught　his　breath。　Wiped　his　brow。　　Amirjan　is　my　only　son。。。　my　only　child；　and　he　has　been　a　good　son　to　me。　I　hope　he　proves。。。　worthy　of　your　kindness。　I　ask　that　you　honor　Amir　jan　and　me。。。　and　accept　my　son　into　your　family。　
The　general　nodded　politely。
　We　are　honored　to　wele　the　son　of　a　man　such　as　yourself　into　our　family；　　he　said。　　Your　reputation　precedes　you。　I　was　your　humble　admirer　in　Kabul　and　remain　so　today。　We　are　honored　that　your　family　and　ours　will　be　joined。
　Amirjan；　as　for　you；　I　wele　you　to　my　home　as　a　son；　as　the　husband　of　my　daughter　who　is　the　noor　of　my　eye。　Your　pain　will　be　our　pain；　your　joy　our　joy。　I　hope　that　you　will　e　to　see　your　Khala　Jamila　and　me　as　a　second　set　of　parents；　and　I　pray　for　your　and　our　lovely　Soraya　jan　s　happiness。　You　both　have　our　blessings。　
Everyone　applauded；　and　with　that　signal；　heads　turned　toward　the　hallway。　The　moment　I　d　waited　for。
Soraya　appeared　at　the　end。　Dressed　in　a　stunning　winecolored　traditional　Afghan　dress　with　long　sleeves　and　gold　trimmings。　Baba　s　hand　took　mine　and　tightened。　Khanum　Taheri　burst　into　fresh　tears。　Slowly；　Soraya　caine　to　us；　tailed　by　a　procession　of　young　female　relatives。
She　kissed　my　father　s　hands。　Sat　beside　me　at　last；　her　eyes　downcast。
The　applause　swelled。
ACCORDING　TO　TRADITION；　Soraya　s　family　would　have　thrown　the　engagement　party　the　Shirini…khori………or　　Eating　of　the　Sweets　　ceremony。　Then　an　engagement　period　would　have　followed　which　would　have　lasted　a　few　months。　Then　the　wedding；　which　would　be　paid　for　by　Baba。
We　all　agreed　that　Soraya　and　I　would　forgo　the　Shirini…khori。　Everyone　knew　the　reason；　so　no　one　had　to　actually　say　it：　that　Baba　didn　t　have　months　to　live。
Soraya　and　I　never　went　out　alone　together　while　preparations　for　the　wedding　proceeded……since　we　weren　t　married　yet；　hadn　t　even　had　a　Shirini…khori；　it　was　considered　improper。　So　I　had　to　make　do　with　going　over　to　the　Taheris　with　Baba　for　dinner。　Sit　across　from　Soraya　at　the　dinner　table。　Imagine　what　it
would　be　like　to　feel　her　head　on　my　chest；　smell　her　hair。　Kiss　her。　Make　love　to　her。
Baba　spent　35；000；　nearly　the　balance　of　his　life　savings；　on　the　awroussi；　the　wedding　ceremony。　He　rented　a　large　Afghan　banquet　hail　in　Fremont……the　man　who　owned　it　knew　him　from　Kabul　and　gave　him　a　substantial　discount。　Baba　paid　for　the　？？chi　las；　our　matching　wedding　bands；　and　for　the　diamond　ring　I　picked　out。　He　bought　my　tuxedo；　and　my　traditional　green　suit　for　the　nika……the　swearing　ceremony。　For　all　the　frenzied　preparations　that　went　into　the　wedding　night……most　of　it；　blessedly；　by　Khanum　Taheri　and　her　friends……　I　remember　only　a　handful　of　moments　from　it。
I　remember　our　nika。　We　were　seated　around　a　table；　Soraya　and　I　dressed　in　green……the　color　of　Islam；　but　also　the　color　of　spring　and　new　beginnings。　I　wore　a　suit；　Soraya　（the　only　woman　at　the　table）　a　veiled　long…sleeved　dress。　Baba；　General　Taheri　（in　a　tuxedo　this　time）；　and　several　of　Soraya　s　uncles　were　also　present　at　the　table。　Soraya　and　I　looked　down；　solemnly　respectful；　casting　onl