What does it mean when Amir says Baba dies 'on his own terms'?

• A. He dies suddenly without a long illness.
• B. He dies after accepting morphine to ease pain.
• C. He dies peacefully after rejecting pain relief and maintaining his stubborn independence.
• D. He dies after making a final public statement.

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is about dying with autonomy and dignity—someone choosing how and under what conditions they die rather than letting illness dictate the end.

Baba faces a terminal illness and, in the moment described, chooses to endure his pain rather than rely on pain relief, preserving his stubborn independence. This means he dies peacefully, but on his own terms—he asserts control over his death, staying true to the pride and self-reliance that define him. That’s why the best answer is the one that frames his death as a result of rejecting pain relief and maintaining his stubborn independence.

The other options don’t fit because the scene isn’t about a sudden death, about opting for morphine, or about delivering a final public statement.