Read Online Shooting Kabul by N. H. Senzai - Free Book Online Page B

and followed her.
    â€œExcuse me,” he said, “I think this is yours.”
    The girl’s almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise. “Thanks. That’s really decent of you.”
    Fadi recognized her. She was the one running for class president. “No problem,” he said with a shrug.
    â€œMy name’s Anh, Anh Hong.” She stuck out her hand with authority.
    Fadi gave her a weak shake. “I’m Fadi. Fadi Nurzai.”
    â€œWell, thanks again, Fadi,” Anh said. She moved on with her friends.
    Taking a bite of his cheeseburger, Fadi sat alone, watching students flurry around him like snowflakes in a blizzard. He felt as though he were hidden behind a camera lens, watching another world whirl past in shattered fragments.

M UFFLED VOICES ECHOED down the hallway as Fadi came up the stairs to the family’s apartment. No one’s supposed to be home, he thought, pressing his ear against the front door. He could hear Uncle Amin’s voice rumbling inside. Fadi inserted his key and pushed open the door to find his parents, Uncle Amin, and Khala Nilufer in the living room, huddled around a pot of tea and sugared almonds.
    â€œProfessor Sahib found a group of women who were trying to get on the truck that night,” Habib explained to the other adults. “They remembered seeing a little girl standing on the side of the road, crying.” His facewas flushed as he looked up to see Fadi enter.
    Fadi’s heart pounded as he retreated around the corner into the hall. He didn’t want to be told to go out to play or something. He wanted to hear what was going on.
    Habib continued. “They were a group of sisters taking their father to Peshawar for medical treatment. They were having a difficult time with the old man because he was so sick.”
    I remember them, thought Fadi, his heart pounding. He’d stepped over the poor old man in his rush to get to the truck.
    â€œWell,” continued Habib, “the women said the crowd dispersed within seconds as the Taliban came roaring down the road, in pursuit of the truck. The women picked up their father and hid in one of the warehouses.”
    â€œAre they sure it was Mariam?” asked Khala Nilufer.
    â€œTheir description matches Mariam’s features and what she was wearing,” said Habib.
    â€œDid they see what happened to her?” pressed Zafoona.
    â€œOne of the sisters, Aisha, the one Professor Sahib spoke to, felt bad that a little girl was out there all alone, so she came out to look for her.”
    â€œOh, Allah, have mercy,” said Uncle Amin.
    â€œAisha spotted Mariam talking to a family and thought she’d been found by her parents … so she went backinto the warehouse.”
    â€œFamily? What family?” whispered Zafoona.
    â€œA man, his wife, and two sons,” said Habib. “That’s who Aisha remembers seeing before she returned to the warehouse. Professor Sahib found another man who’d been unable to get onto the truck that night, but the man didn’t remember seeing Mariam or the family Aisha was talking about.”
    â€œWho knows what kind of people she’s with,” moaned Zafoona.
    â€œThey must be good people,” soothed Khala Nilufer. “They took in a helpless little girl.”
    â€œBut who knows where they took her!” cried Zafoona.
    â€œWell, we know the family was trying to get to Peshawar,” said Uncle Amin logically. “They’ll probably get the traffickers to bring them over the border since their passage has been paid for. Once Mariam reaches Peshawar, it will be much easier to find her.”
    â€œHabib told Mariam not to tell anyone who she is,” interrupted Zafoona. “What if she doesn’t tell these people her real name? She’ll tell them she’s the daughter of a simple farmer or goat herder, or something else.”
    She’s right, thought Fadi, sweat beading on his