The Swallows of Kabul Chapter 2

In this chapter, Atiq is described as the jail keeper. He is very depressed, and he seems like he is just done living his life. He spends his days in the small, dark, and spider web-covered cubbyhole he calls his office. The atmosphere of the jail is eating away at him, along with the thought of having to go home and care for his dying wife. She has a disease in her blood, and the doctors have given up hope for her to live through it. Atiq is starting to question mullah because is his wife's sickness. Atiq decides to leave the jail and go for a walk. While walking along the street, a horse and cart comes speeding by, and he almost gets run over. At the very last second, he jumps out of the way and lands by Mizra Shah's store, who was an friend that he grew up with. Mizra says that Atiq looks depressed and Atiq tells him about his wife. Mizra says that Atiq should just divorce her, but Atiq feels that he cannot because she saved his life. I cannot believe the way Mizra talks about women and pretty much their worthlessness. It seems as though they are just slaves to the men in this society. I feel bad for Atiq's wife becasue she is so sick and no one has hope, and I wonder how Atiq has not just married someone else by now because it seems like that is what everyone else does.