A Kabul family has upgraded every relative forced to flee into an international success story, after discovering that its prestige spreadsheet calculates destinations but has no column for circumstances.
An uncle reading the figures to visitors describes a cousin in temporary accommodation as ‘established in Europe.’ A request for help with rent is entered under ‘overseas property interests.’ The cousin’s own account of leaving is too long for the cell.
When she asks him to stop saying she chose to go, he assures her that nobody disputes what happened. They have simply agreed not to mention it while guests are present.
She then asks whether she can come home. He checks the formula. That would count as a family setback.