Jalil's weekly visits to the kolba

Mariam's father, Jalil, a wealthy businessman from Herat, visits her and Nana every Thursday at their remote kolba. He brings gifts and stories, painting a picture of a world beyond their isolated existence. Mariam adores him, but Nana is bitterly resentful, warning Mariam that Jalil's affections are false and that he has abandoned them. These visits are the highlight of Mariam's week, creating a deep, conflicted love for her father that contrasts sharply with Nana's cynicism.