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Ramadan begins
The new crescent moon alters the entire city of Kabul, making it empty and extremely quiet. Mariam fasts and adjusts to life with Rasheed. -
Mir Akbar Kyber murder
Mir Akbar Kyber is murdered and it affects all of the people in Kabul. Mir Akbar Kyber was a prominent communist and this murder greatly upsets the government. Rasheed tries explaining this to Mariam. However, she gets confused and he quickly loses patience and tells her to shut up. -
Start of spring 1987
Laila's best friend Tariq leaves with his family to the city of Ghazni to visit his paternal uncle. This greatly affects her mood and she becomes very depressed until his return. -
Soviet convoys exit Kabul
Spectators gather near Wazir Akbar Khan to watch the lines of tanks, jeeps, and trucks pass by. Laila watches the Soviets with her parents and Tariq. Her parents hold up pictures of their dead sons lost in the war to honor them. -
Najibullah surrenders
Najibullah surrenders and is given sanctuary in the UN compound near Darulaman Palace. The jihad is over. Revenge for Laila's brothers deaths are fulfilled. Laila's mother honors the Tajik commander Ahmad Shah Massoud for how his victory could finally let her sons rest in peace. -
Fighting between the Pashtuns and Hazaras escalate
Heavy fighting begins in West Kabul between the Pashtuns and the Hazaras. This knocks down power lines and pulverized entire blocks of shops and homes. The Pashtuns invade Hazara households and shoot the families. The Hazaras abduct Pashtun civilians, rape Pashtun girls, and kill indiscriminately. Bodies are being hung on trees and the violence only gets worse. Laila's father wants to move but her mother refuses to leave Kabul. -
Spring of 1993
Laila gives birth to her first child, a baby girl named Aziza. Rasheed does not know that he is not the father of Laila's baby. He treats Mariam even worse because the crying of the baby angers him. -
The Taliban arrives
Laila is very happy that the Taliban has arrived. Nobody knows the horrors the Taliban will bring. Rasheed makes the comment that at least the Taliban is pure Muslim boys who can bring order. They all agree that anything will be better than the Mujahideen commanders. -
Major drought hits Kabul
Citizens search for water all throughout Helmand, Zabol, and Kandahar. They do not find any there and come to Kabul. Most live in makeshift huts on the Kareh-Ariana hillside. -
The Taliban beats trespassers
Rasheed and Laila drop off Aziza at Karteh-Seh, an orphanage in Kabul. Tariq's business sets on fire so they have to leave one of their children at an orphanage until he gets a job again. Laila and Mariam continually go to visit Aziza, even though they are often beaten and sent home by the Taliban.