Chapter Twelve SOK

Atiq is amazed that Zunaira (she was the prisoner) removed her burqa. He says that she is so beautiful. He hasn't seen any woman other than his wife's face for so long, it is almost like he doesn't know what to do with himself. I love how he described the burqa as "A hood with latticed eyeholes has come down and confiscated everything: laughs, smiles, glances, dimpled cheeks, fringed eyelashes...." It shows that not all men want women to wear burqas, but that they have been forced by the Taliban into having that opinion and viewpoint. Atiq is basically obsessed with Zunaira, and when he tells Musarrat she is overwhelmed with happiness. At first I thought this was weird. She was happy that her husband was going crazy over another woman. I don't think that happens very often. I think I understand what she was thinking now though. Recently her husband has changed. He has been becoming one of the Taliban. I think that seeing Zunaira undid all of that for Atiq, and Musarrat is extremely happy about that. If someone that I loved was turning into someone that would have made their true selves sick, I would be willing to accept anything if it meant that they were changing, if not back to who they were, at least to someone who does not believe in the Taliban and their actions. I don't think that Musarrat knows how serious Atiq is about Zunaira either.