dropping bombs on innocent people and others are raping girls . More important , our leaders are raping the whole land , while we are exchanging talks about our fatherland like a volcano vomiting . Let us drink and forget our aching prayers ." I raved on , indifferent to the poor , ravished girls . I stood up and looked out at the sun , like a golden ball growing smaller , which was disappearing behind the fast shut eyelid of the ocean .
" Did you not hear what I just said ?" asked Abdullah with the sound of anger in his voice , thinking I wasn ' t listening or that I cared not for what was happening in our country . He set his glass down heavily , seeming very annoyed .
" Yes , I heard you . Speak , I ' m listening ."
Abdullah stared at me for a while . Finally he began : " Neeha is a Pakistani girl . She left home at a very tender age . She was sold to a brothel house and was exposed to endless rapes ."
Abdullah walked toward the window where I stood , both hands in the pockets of his pants , as though in thought . He then turned his back toward me . I could tell something was not right as he walked toward the table .
I frowned . " Girls are taught about this danger from an early age . When a young pretty girl runs away from home , she takes her chances ."
I felt no remorse for my unconcern . However , I then spotted an opportunity . Perhaps the outrages about which Abdullah wished to speak would make a good story , a story which might be beneficial to my reputation as a writer . As the band played the unmistakable theme song from " Magnolia Girls ", I clinked my glass with Abdullah ' s and urged him to go on .
Abdullah continued , while the music ' s resounding beat snaked through the bar . " Neeha ran away from home because she had been raped by her father ."
I snorted with disbelief .
" Believe it , my dear writer ," Abdullah said . " Facts are always strange ."
He looked at me closely . " Shall I continue ?"
I was not sure . Abdullah and I had been friends since college , and I ' d never known him to lie . But it was such a bitter truth , so hard to believe .
Why her father ? It was such a disgusting truth . As I sat with my face in my hands , pouring out
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