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Amir
Amir’s mother hemorrhages to death while giving birth to Amir. The fact that she died allows Baba to blame Amir for killing his ‘princess’ who he loved. For the rest of Baba’s life, Amir constantly looks for the approval of his father because he knows Baba blames him for his wife’s death. -
Hassan
As Hassan is being born, his mother automatically disapproves of his hare-lip and runs off with a circus just a week later. Hassans mother, Sanaubar, was practically the town whore who slept around with everyone… even those who were least expected… -
Changes in Kabul: No More Monarch
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The Threat That Started Everything
Assef tells Hassan and Amir that Afghanistan is a land for Pashtuns, not “dirty, kasseef Hazaras.” Furthermore, he resents Amir for being friends with a hazara, and takes out his famous brass knuckles to use on Hassan and Amir. In the spur of the moment, Hassan takes out his slingshot and aims a rock at Assef’s eye, promising him if he didn’t back off he’d be known as “one-eyed Assef.” Assef leaves the 2 alone, but promises he’ll get them back worse for what they’ve done. -
The Kite Over Friendship
Amir is 12 years old. He and Hassan participate is the kite flying contest, and as Amir finally cuts the line of his last opponent, Hassan runs off to go get the fallen kite. While Hassan is getting the kite, Assef threatens him into giving him the kite, he refuses, and pays the price. Amir goes looking for Hassan and witnesses Hassan get raped by Assef and a group of friends. Amir stands behind a crumbling wall, watches as his childhood friend suffer and does absolutely nothing to stop Assef. -
Happy Birthday Devil's Selfish Spawn
o Amir is turning 13. Assef and his parents attend the party and while they are there, Hassan is serving food and drinks while Assef hits him. On this day, Amir is given a leather notebook from Rahm Kahn to write his stories in. -
Its the Devil's work
A few days later Amir makes a life changing decision. He plants his father’s gift to him-a watch- and some birthday money, under Hassan’s mattress. When Baba finds it he calls Ali and Hassan into his study and questions Hassan about the watch. Hassan, being the loyal brother Amir had, takes the blame. Which leads to Ali packing his belongings and leaving the house with Hassan, not because Baba kicked him out, but because he knew what happened to Hassan and that Amir did nothing. -
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Goodbye Afghanistan
o Amir and Baba are secretly trying to flee the country and find their way to Peshawar. In the process of leaving Jalalabad, the driver claims the truck is broken. Amir, Baba, and the group of people fleeing the country remain in a rat-infested basement for weeks. When the truck is finally fixed Amir and Baba are taken to Peshawar, where they fly over to America- a clean slate for Amir. -
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Hello, Goodbye
o Amir marries Soraya, a decent and mohtaram afghan girl. Less than a month later, Baba dies due to the cancer that had been found months ago. -
Rahim Kahn
Amir receives a phone call from Rahim Kahn. This phone call triggers a series of memories for Amir, especially Hassan’s loyal words “for you, a thousand times over.” Rahim Kahn asks Amir to come see him in Pakistan, a release from all of Amir’s past sins. -
Secreats Revealed with a Dying Wish
As Amir is speaking to Rahim Kahn, Rahim reveals that Hassan had a child of his own, Sohrab, with his wife, Farzana. He also says that Hassan and his wife were killed by the Taliban, leaving Sohrab alone and orphaned. In a last turn of events, Rahim also reveals that Baba was the real father of Hassan, and that nobody knew other than himself and Baba. And as his last dying wish, he asks Amir to retrieve Sohrab from the orphanage in Kabul. -
Threats fufilled
Amir has settled a meeting with the man holding Sohrab captive. In this meeting, the individual that has Sohrab turns out to be Assef, leaving Amir breathless and hopeless. Assef, as he swore many years ago, gets Amir back for defying him all those years back, in the process he breaks many bones, including ribs, orbital bones, and his jaw. Lastly, Sohrab oulls out a slingshot, and fulfills Hassan’s threat at last, one-eyed assef. Amir and Sohrab quickly escape and rush to the hospital. -
Broken Promises
Amir had promised Sohrab that he would never return to an orphanage again, however, the process to take Sohrab to America was so lengthy and complicated that the promise had to be broken. In a fit of anxiety, sadness, and betrayal, Sohrab attempts to take his own life. -
America
Amir speaks with his wife who reveals that she has spoken to someone who can get Sohrab into the country with a humanitarian visa. When Amir finally gets sohrab into America and into his home, Sohran is beyond traumatized, leaving him wordless for over a year. -
A Thousand Times Over
o While at a gathering at a park, Amir spots kites being flown in the distance, in an attempt to encourage Sohrab to open up, he asks him to help him fly his own kite. In the process of bonding, Amir cuts the line of a competitor’s kite and asks Sohrab if he would like him to run the kite. A miraculous yet tiny smile lets Amir know it’s a yes, and sends him running with the words “for you, a thousand times over.”
