The Kite Runner

A week passes, and Amir does not see Hassan. Ali asks Amir if something happened after the kite tournament, stating that Hassan came home bloodied. He says that Hassan has only wanted to sleep in between his chores. Amir snaps at Ali, suggesting he has simply fallen ill: “People get sick all the time, Ali. Now, am I going to freeze to death or are you planning on lighting the stove today” (71).

Amir asks Baba if they can go to Jalalabad to see a Charlton Heston film. Although Baba and Amir have grown closer since his victory at the kite tournament, Amir is annoyed when Baba suggests that Hassan should come along. Amir lies, telling Baba that Hassan is sleeping off a cold. Amir’s plans to have Baba to himself are foiled when Baba invites a cohort of relatives, all of them caravanning in three vans to Jalalabad. On the way, Amir begins to feel carsick while Baba brags about Amir’s kite tournament win. From the passenger seat, Rahim Khan watches Amir in silence. Amir finally gets sick, vomiting on the shoulder of the road while a picture forms in his mind’s eye: “Hassan’s brown corduroy pants discarded on a pile of old bricks in the alley” (74). That night in Jalalabad at Amir’s cousin’s palatial home, Amir confesses aloud to watching Hassan being raped, but no one hears. He considers Hassan’s dream, realizing that he is the monster at the bottom of the lake. 

The following week, Amir and Hassan go up the hill to the pomegranate tree where they used to read from the Shahnamah together, but when Hassan requests Amir read to him, Amir lies and says he is too tired. Hassan tries one final time to rekindle his friendship with Amir, inviting him to the bakery to pick up naan. Through the closed door of his bedroom, Amir rejects Hassan’s offer. When Hassan asks if he has done something wrong or if there is something he should stop doing, Amir responds that he wants him to stop harassing him. Although Hassan fulfills this request, his daily presence as a servant in Baba’s house is too much for Amir’s guilty conscience to bear.

Baba and Amir’s bond over the kite tournament cannot last, and Baba begins staying out for long stretches of time again: “We’d actually deceived ourselves into thinking that a toy made of tissue paper, glue, and bamboo could somehow close the chasm between us” (76). While planting tulips in the garden, Amir asks Baba if he had ever considered new servants. This question enrages Baba, who tells Amir that whatever conflict he has with Hassan, it is up to Amir to squash it: “Forty years Ali’s been with my family [...] Hassan’s not going anywhere” (78).

On a summer afternoon, Amir invites Hassan up the hill, telling him that he would like to read him a new story. Hassan hurries to finish his chores, but when they arrive at the hill, Amir asks him what he would do if he threw a pomegranate at Hassan. When Hassan does not respond, Amir throws the pomegranate, spraying him with red. Wanting to be punished so that he can be purged of his guilt, Amir tells Hassan to hit him back, hurling more pomegranates until Hassan finally breaks open a pomegranate, smearing it on his own face: “‘There,’ he croaked, red dripping down his face like blood. ‘Are you satisfied? Do you feel better’” (81).

Baba organizes an extravagant party for Amir’s 13th birthday. Many important families in the neighborhood attend, and Amir is forced to greet them each personally, including Assef, who arrives flanked by his father, Mahmood, and his mother, Tanya. Amir wonders if they are frightened of their son as they barely speak throughout the interaction, deferring to Assef. Assef gives Amir a biography of Hitler as a birthday gift. 

Rahim Khan finds Amir alone at his party. Amir listens while Rahim reminisces about the time he fell in love with and nearly married his servant, Homaira, who was sent away by Rahim’s father. Rahim remarks that he understands now that the match would have been difficult for her. He asks Amir directly if Amir has something to tell him. Amir is sure that Rahim knows and nearly confesses to witnessing Hassan’s rape but never does. Rahim gives Amir a leather-bound journal. Heading back toward the party-goers, Amir sees Hassan by the light of a firework display. He is waiting on Assef’s table while Assef rubs his chest.

The next day Ali gives Amir his gift, a likely expensive and new edition of the Shahnamah with a hard cover and hand-drawn illustrations. Feeling too guilty to look at it, Amir puts the book at the bottom of a heap of gifts he will ultimately throw away. He realizes then that only he or Hassan can remain living on Baba’s estate. The following day, Amir waits for Ali and Hassan to leave. Amir plants one of his gifts, a watch, and money beneath Hassan’s mattress. He tells Baba that his watch is missing. 

When Ali and Hassan return, Baba confronts them about the stolen contraband. Hassan lies and confesses to the crime to spare Amir the consequence of Baba’s wrath. Although Baba forgives Hassan, Ali announces that they have already packed to leave. He requests that Baba drive them to the bus depot. Baba tries to dissuade them, even begging Ali to stay, but Ali is resolute. Amir realizes that Ali knows when he looks in his direction. Baba breaks down in tears but, during an uncommon summer rain, drives Ali and Hassan away.