The Booksellerof Kabul 11.10.08

As summertime approaches in Afghanistan, Sultan unexpectedly brought his first wife, Sharifa, home from Pakistan. Although he claims she is only staying for the summer, She is hopeful that she and her son will become new house members. Despite the differences between Sharifa and his younger second wife, Sonya, Sharifa's arrival brought them closer together. Having not seen or spoken to each other in over a year, they have much to catch up on. Although Sonya's stories are about city life in Kabul, Sharifa manages to still relate her stories from refugee life. Both have gossip about the weddings they attended, the dresses worn, the engagements, and which girls are unfortunately forced to marry lousy men. Sharifa tells them about Saliqa, someone they all formally knew who became quite a scandalous woman upon taking refuge in Pakistan. During the preparations for her engagement party, her husband was such a "poverty-stricken layabout" that his family wasn't able to pay for it. The engagement party is one of the most expensive and meaningful parts of a marriage. However she had no choice but to continue with the marriage because of a secret meeting they had in the park one day, that didn't remain a secret for very long. She had ruined her own reputation and would lose everything if the wedding was called off.