She understood then what Nana meant, that a harami was an unwanted thing: that she, Mariam, was an illegitimate person who would never have a legitimate claim to the things other people had, things such as love, family, home, acceptance. CHAPTER 1 PAGE 4
This quote shows realization, because when she was younger she didn't know what this word (also interpreted as "bastard") meant. She realizes that she is a different person who won't have the same things as the normal person would.