Amir begins his long quest for redemption when he returns
to Pakistan, and then Afghanistan, in June 2001. Meeting with Baba's old friend, Rahim
Khan in Pakistan, Amir learns that Hassan is dead; Hassan has a son somewhere in
Afghanistan; and that Hassan is actually his half-brother, fathered by Baba and
Sanaubar. Amir's step toward atonement comes when he rescues Sohrab from the Taliban
while nearly being beaten to death in the process. It is during the beating that Amir
first feels the freedom of his sins.
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My body was broken--just how badly I wouldn't
find out until later--but I felt healed. Healed at
last.
Safely arriving with
Sohrab in Pakistan, Amir heals his wounds before beginning the search for the Caldwells,
who were to take Sohrab into their home. But Amir discovers that the Caldwells are
fictitious, contrived by Rahim Khan in order to guarantee that Amir would locate Sohrab.
So, Amir decides to return home to California with Sohrab, and make him a member of his
family--something that he had never been able to accept with Hassan. But Sohrab's
suicide attempt lengthens Amir's stay.
When they finally
arrive in California, Sohrab is unable to adapt to his new surroundings, rarely speaking
and withdrawing into a world of his own. But in the final chapter, when Amir takes
Sohrab kite-flying, Amir finds himself acting out one final form of redemption: He
volunteers to run Sohrab's kite, just as Hassan had done so many times for
him.
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