Laila’s and Mariam’s Struggles against Gender Discrimination Nana’s Acceptance towards Gender Discrimination

142 Rasheed yelled for Laila to come up and shut her up, a look passed between Laila and Mariam. An unguarded, knowing look. And in this fleeting, wordless exchange with Mariam, Laila knew that they were not enemies any longer. Being Bond in Sisterhood From that night on, Mariam and Laila did their chores together. They sat in the kitchen and rolled dough, chopped green onions, minced garlic, offered bits of cucumber to Aziza, who banged spoons nearby and played with carrots. In the yard, Aziza lay in a wicker bassinet, dressed in layers of clothing, a winter muffler wrapped snugly around her neck. Mariam and Laila kept a watchful eye on her as they did the wash, Mariams knuckles bumping Lailas as they scrubbed shirts and trousers and diapers. 24535 Being Bond in Sisterhood Then Aziza passed gas in her sleep. Laila began to laugh, and Mariam joined in. They laughed like this, at each others reflection in the mirror, their eyes tearing, and the moment was so natural, so effortless, that suddenly Mariam started telling her about Jalil, and Nana, and the jinn. Laila stood with her hands idle on Mariams shoulders, eyes locked on Mariams face in the mirror. Out the words came, like blood gushing from an artery. Mariam told her about Bibi jo, Mullah Faizullah, the humiliating trek to Jalils house, Nanas suicide. She told about Jalils wives, and the hurried nikka with Rasheed, the trip to Kabul, her pregnancies, the endless cycles of hope and disappointment, Rasheeds turning on her. After, Laila sat at the foot of Mariams chair. Absently, she removed a scrap of lint entangled in Azizas hair. A silence 24935

2. Laila’s and Mariam’s Struggles against Gender Discrimination

143 ensued. I have something to tell you too, Laila said. Having consciousness Were leaving this spring, Aziza and I. Come with us, Mariam.Laila 25035 Having consciousness Rasheed didnt notice her coming back into the room. He was still on top of Laila, his eyes wide and crazy, his hands wrapped around her neck. Lailas face was turning blue now, and her eyes had rolled back. Mariam saw that she was no longer struggling. Hes going to kill her, she thought. He really means to. And Mariam could not, would not, allow that to happen. Hed taken so much from her in twenty seven years of marriage. She would not watch him take Laila too. Mariam 33945

2 Forms of

Struggles Working together in sisterhood Mariam was in the doorway. Laila could tell that she hadnt slept either. She wondered if Mariam too had been seized all night by bouts of euphoria and attacks of mouth drying anxiety. Well leave in half an hour, Laila said. 25136 Working together in sisterhood Forgive me, brother, but are you going to Peshawar? Yes, he said, squinting. I wonder if you can help us. Can you do us a favor? He passed the boy to his wife. He and Laila stepped away. What is it, hamshira? She was encouraged to see that he had soft eyes, a kind face. She told him the story that she and Mariam had agreed on. She was a biwa, she said, a widow. She and her mother and daughter had no one left in Kabul. They were going to Peshawar to stay with her uncle. You want to come with my family, the young man said 254-25536

2. Laila’s and Mariam’s Struggles against Gender Discrimination