In chapter fifteen Amir arrives in Peshawar he says that he still remembers the city from the time he and his Baba spent there when they were waiting to go to America. When Amir sees Rahim Khan for the first time he remarks that "Then, a thing mad of skin and bones pretending to be Rahim Khan opened the door." page 197. This statement goes to show that Rahim Khan is in a very bad state. Amir regards this situation as the "elephant in the room" and avoids mentioning it at first. So instead they have general conversation, Amir tells Rahim about his marriage and Rahim tells about how the situation in Kabul has deteriorated even further since he and his Baba left and also about what he has been doing since they left as well. Rahim tells all about the hardships and horror the citizens of Kabul had to face daily during the 1992 to 1996 when the Northern Alliance took over. Gunfire and rocket explosions were a common place. He even informs him that they destroyed his Baba's orphanage. Then the Taliban came and liberated them and people were hopeful for the first time in a long time.
It is at this point in the story that Amir and Rahim finally address the fact that he is seriously ill. It is implied that Rahim has cancer and he informs Amir that he does not believe that he will live out the summer. It is extremely ironic that Rahim is suffering from cancer when this is the aliment that eventually killed Amir's Baba as well. Amir offers to take him back to America with him so that he can find Rahim a doctor. Rahim replies that "I see America Has infused you with the optimism that has mad her so great. That's very good." page 201. Then Rahim goes on to respectfully decline Amir's offer stating that he believes that it is "God's will." Amir clearly disagrees but does not argue with Rahim any further. Rahim tells Amir that he wants him to do one thing for him but first he wants him to listen to what he has to tell him about Hassan. Amir agrees and Rahim begins relating his story.
Rahim had been living in Amir's old house; Amir's Baba had arranged it so that he technically sold the house to Rahim when they fled Kabul and then was planning on getting it back when things settled down. However, things never settled down and that dream never became a reality. Rahim admits that he went looking for Hassan for a number of reasons, one of which being that he was lonely. Another was that he was getting older and was finding it more and more difficult to take care of the house. Rahim found Hassan living in a small village outside of Bamiyan. It turns out that Hassan has made a new life for himself and is even married to a soft spoken Hazara woman, Farzana. It appears as if Hassan is very happy with his life and is extremely content, he's even expecting his first child. The reader learns that Ali has passed away in a very tragic situation. Ali and his cousin had been killed by a land mine two years prior to Rahim coming to find them. Rahim notes that it was about halfway through the visit before Hassan asked about Amir. Rahim tells Amir that "Hassan had so many questions about you." page 207. This statement implies that Hassan forgave Amir long ago and simply wishes to have some sort of relationship with him. Initially when Rahim asks Hassan to come back with him and help him to take care of the house he declines, but when he learns about Amir's Baba's death he changes his mind and comes back with Rahim. It can be seen that Hassan is still very insightful at this point in the novel. At the time that the Taliban take over and liberate Afghanistan, Hassan states "God help the Hazaras now, Rahim Khan sahib." page 213. It says something that Hassan was able to see that the Taliban spelled trouble when others could not.
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