Creative writing - The Kite Runner

FATHER AND SON.

In class we read the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I really liked the story but I considered that the end was too precipitate. In my opinion, how the relationship between Amir and Sohrab continues deserved more space, so I decided to write an extra section in the novel related to that. Besides, I also wanted to write a happier ending, where Amir has the possibility to redeem himself completely and where we can see how his relationship with Sohrab improves and they can be considered as a happy family from now on.
I also tried to make the reader feel relieved and, in a way, to make them “forgive” Amir. Another intention is to show that nothing is impossible, and that the most unbelievable things can happen if we have faith, tell the truth always and are willing to face the consequences of doing so.

Five years have passed since Sohrab moved to America. Now he talks and lives happily with Amir and Soraya. He went to school and loved running kites, just as his father did. The phrase: `for you a thousand times over´ was usually used in the house, as it used to be in Baba’s house in the old times. His relationship with Amir had improved a lot, and they liked spending time together, talking about Hassan and Ali, Rahim Kahn and Baba. They would sit for hours and remember all the moments Amir and Hassan had spent together, their adventures, their fights against Assef, the kite tournament, winter time in Kabul...

Amir loved Sohrab as if he was his own son. He would do his best to teach him what his own father taught him once. They always talked about Amir’s childhood in Baba’s house and Amir used his experiences as an example to teach Sohrab. He told him how Baba’s relationship changed over the years and he would also talk about the guilt he felt because of his mother’s death. He remembered once when Baba was talking with Rahim Kahn and said: “If I hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I’d never believe he is my son”. They also talked about the important role Rahim Kahn played in his life since, unlike Baba, he gave Amir his support and understood him. “A boy who won’t stand up for himself is a boy who can’t stand up to anything” – remembered Amir that Baba would tell Rahim Kahn.

– “My father was worried because the neighbourhood boys pushed me and took my toys and I never fought back. Your father would step in and fend them off. You see Sohrab? We got home and Baba would ask, `How did Hassan get that scrape on his face? ´ and I would answer `he fell down´. That is not how things are supposed to happen, you know?”

This was a really useful way to teach Sohrab. Amir also told him about the day that Baba said “no matter what the mullah teaches, there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft (…) when you kill a man, you steal a life, you steal a wife right’s to his husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness…”

At that precise moment Amir knew what he had to do. He didn’t want to steal Sohrab’s right to the truth so he decided to tell him everything. He mentioned how jealous he was, he talked about Hassan being raped, he talked about the watch and the money, he talked about everything. Sohrab was confused. Actually, he was disappointed. He didn’t know what to say or think. He was sad because he thought Amir was different. He started yelling and said he would have preferred to stay in Afghanistan. Amir felt horrible…

As he already did once, Sohrab stopped talking. He needed to think and reorder his thoughts in his mind. He wouldn’t eat or get out of his room. He wouldn’t want to run kites or go to school. Amir let him alone, he didn’t bother or try to talk, he wanted to give him his space.

Sohrab was really sad because he knew that things could have been different. Hate started to grow in his heart. He couldn’t understand how it could be possible that what happened so many years ago could hurt him that much.
He knew that if Amir had reacted in a different way, now, his most beloved relatives would have been there with him, happy all together, being a FAMILY…

It was almost a month and Sohrab would continue locked in his room. He barely ate what Soraya jan gave him. Amir was really concerned about his health. He was afraid that he would try to kill himself again. The situation continued the same until one day Soraya went in the room to give Sohrab his meal and she stood there longer that she usually did. When she went out she sat in the sofa, next to Amir and told him: “Don’t worry, he will be fine. We just need to give him some more time. Don’t feel guilty, he also understands you, he just told me that. His problem is that he is too young and it is very difficult for him to accept this”

Soraya’s words were very important for Amir. Now he felt better and he was calm. She made him feel that way… she always did. Amir fell asleep and when he woke up, Sohrab was sitting next to him. Soraya wasn’t there anymore. At that moment, Sohrab started to cry and gave Amir something he had in his hands. Amir opened it and saw a kite Sohrab had made for him. On it there were some photos of the five of them; Baba, Amir, Hassan, Sohrab and Rahim Khan. Amir gave him a hug and after a while Sohrab said:
- “When guilt leads to good, that’s what true redemption is”. Rahim Kahn told me that once, Amir agha. Now I understand what he meant when he said that. I felt sad and disappointed when you told me the truth but now I see. It is hard to accept that things could have been different and we could all be living together now, but this is my reality, this is my life and you are my family. Thanks a lot Amir agha. And thank you for telling me the truth”

Amir didn’t know what to say. The only words that came out of his mouth were “for you a thousand times over”

At that precise moment Soraya came in the room again. In her face there was a tear and in her eyes a strange but happy look.
- I’m pregnant! – She said.
- I’m going to have a brother! – Sohrab answered while a big smile invaded his face.
Amir couldn’t believe what he was hearing...