40 Mariam calms Laila down. As an older woman, she has positioned herself to
be a wise sister. Mariam faces the hardest thing in this life. She has killed Rasheed, her husband, but she wants Laila to live better. Mariam knows that Laila
has a prospectful life. Laila has Tariq, Aziza, and also Zalmai. Mariam is willing to give her life for Laila’s happiness.
Mariam waited patiently until Laila felt better. Then she had Laila lie down, and, as she stroked Laila’s hair in her lap, Mariam said not to worry, that
everything woould be fine. She said that they would leave. She, Laila, the children, and Tariq too. They would leave this house, and this unforgiving
city. They would leave this despondent country altogether, Mariam said, running her hands through Laila’s hair.....378
Mariam gives her attention to Laila. Through her actions, Mariam shows her beneficial to Laila. Mariam is older to Laila. That is why Mariam has positioned
herself as a good sister for Laila. Mariam cares to Laila.
e. Long Lasting
Many people are quick to start and end their friendship. Aristotle 220 says that time and familiarity are required. The true friendship goes through long
proccess. It means, those who show the sign of friendship quickly are not really true friends. The friendship between Mariam and Laila is long lasting. Aristotle
220 says that friendship which is based on goodnesses is long lasting. Mariam’s and Laila’s long lasting frienship can be seen through the proof that they do not
end their friendship until the death of Mariam and forever. Mariam sacrifices herself to save Laila from Rasheed. One day, Rasheed knows that Laila’s ex-
boyfriend comes. Then, Rasheed knows the secret that Aziza is not his daughter.
41 He wants to kill Laila at that time. Mariam does not want it. She takes a shovel
and kills Rasheed. She lets Laila, Tariq, Aziza, and Zalmai be a happy family. As the result, Mariam is punished by being cut off the head. Mariam positions herself
to be Laila’s hero. In the toolsheed, Mariam grabbed the shovel.
Rasheed didn’t 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. Laila’s
face was turning blue now, and her eyes had rolled back. Mariam saw that she was no longer struggling. He’s going to kill her, she
thought. He really means to. And Mariam could not, would not, allow that to happen. He’d taken so much from her in twenty-seven years of marriage.
She would not watch him to take Laila too.373
Mariam gives what she has. It is stated in the novel “and, with that, Mariam brought down the shovel. This time, she gave it everything she had”374. She
closes her long journey by saving Laila. She ends her hard life. Then, after being saved by Mariam, Laila starts her new life with Tariq, Aziza, Zalmai. Laila will
not forget Mariam. She keeps Mariam as the sacred name in her deep heart. Mariam, the one who have been Laila’s best friend, sister, mother, and also hero.
She wished she could visit Mariam’s grave, to sit with her awhile, leave a flower or two. But Laila sees now that it doesn’t matter. Mariam is never
very far. She is here, in these walls they’ve repainted, in the trees they’ve planted, in the blankets they keep the children warm, in the pillows and
books and pencils. She is in the children’s laughter. She is in the verses Aziza recites and in the prayers she mutters when she bows westward. But,
mostly, Mariam is in Laila’s own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns. 442-443
As what is described before that Mariam and Laila are fair, they develop their friendship fairly. They naturally build the friendship among them. So, it can
be concluded that the friendship between Mariam and Laila is long lasting. They keep their friendship forever because they are fair one another.
42
B. Maintaining Friendship Between Mariam and Laila
