Summary

Chapter One, Fall 1952, opens with Saboor agreeing to tell his children a story. The two children are Abdullah and his younger sister, Pari. Saboor warns from the beginning that he will only tell one story because Saboor and Pari will be going on a trip the following day.

Saboor tells the story of a time when “divs and jinns” roamed the land. There was a farmer named Baba Ayub who had to work hard to provide for his family. The land is inhospitable and the people have difficult lives. Baba Ayub has several children but he loves his three-year-old son, Qais, above the rest. One day, a div arrives and demands that Baba Ayub hand over one of his children. Baba Ayub knows the monster will take all his children if he doesn't give up one of them. He randomly chooses a name...