Ali's Fate: Silent Suffering and Death

Ali's life of quiet dignity, his disability, his dishonor, and his death by a land mine.

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The Orphan and the Servant

The Orphan and the Servant The Adoption Ali is orphaned at age five when his parents are killed by a car driven by two drunk young men. The judge, Baba's father, adopts him. Ali grows up with Baba as a playmate, but he is always a servant. He contracts polio, which leaves him with a twisted leg. He cannot smile due to a congenital paralysis. The Marriage Ali marries his cousin Sanaubar, a beautiful but scandalous woman. She bears him a son, Hassan, but abandons them days later. Ali raises Hassan alone, loving him deeply. He endures the taunts of neighborhood children who call him Babalu. The Dishonor Unbeknownst to Ali, his wife Sanaubar had an affair with Baba, and Hassan is not his biological son. Ali may suspect, but he never confronts Baba. He maintains his dignity and loyalty, even when Baba's son Amir frames Hassan for theft. Ali chooses to leave rather than expose the truth.

Death by Land Mine

Death by Land Mine The Exile After leaving Baba's house, Ali and Hassan move to a village near Bamiyan. Ali lives with his cousin. He works as a farmer. He never speaks of the past. He watches Hassan grow up and marry. The Land Mine Two years before Rahim Khan finds Hassan, Ali steps on a land mine while walking outside Bamiyan. He is killed instantly. His twisted polio leg may have betrayed him. His death is a tragic end to a life of suffering and silence. The Legacy Ali's death leaves Hassan alone, but Hassan carries on his father's legacy of loyalty and hard work. Ali's quiet dignity contrasts with Baba's loud charisma. He is a victim of circumstance, but he never loses his integrity.

1933 to 1964

1984