The Pearl That Broke Its Shell

Shekiba becomes obsessed with the deed to her father’s land. She determines that it must be hidden in her father’s Qur’an. Ismail taught Shekiba and her siblings to read using that Qur’an. She plots to contrive a reason to leave Azizullah’s house. Shekiba uses the upcoming Eid holiday to ask Marjan permission to visit her family. Marjan agrees to ask Azizullah’s permission.

The next day, Marjan berates Shekiba for sitting like a man, but tells her that Azizullah has agreed to escort her to Bobo Shahgul’s household. Shekiba had not expected this: She naively assumed she would be allowed to go alone. On the way to Bobo Shahgul’s house, Shekiba tries to memorize the route through town. Azizullah takes her to his friend Faizullah’s house so she can be watched over while he goes to prayers.

At Bobo Shahgul’s house, they are greeted by Hameed, runs off to tell the others. Shekiba’s uncle, Freidun, greets them. Her uncles and Azizullah exchange pleasantries; the uncles subtly probe him about Shekiba while ignoring her presence. Azizullah tells them that Shekiba wanted to visit her family because she misses them. Shekiba is taken to see her grandmother. Her aunt, Samina, warns her not to antagonize the old woman. Bobo Shahgul is not pleased to see Shekiba. She strikes her with her stick, berating her. Shekiba leaves.

Samina heard their interaction. Shekiba tells her that she needs to get something from her father’s house. Samina does not stop her, but she warns Shekiba, “[T]here are many people willing to make your life difficult” (98). Returning to her old home is bittersweet and painful. She finds her father’s Qur’an. She leafs through it and is flooded with memories of her deceased family. She finds the deed and hides the Qur’an under her shirt. Shekiba returns to the house without interference. Shekiba’s uncles are suspicious of Shekiba’s return to her father’s house but cannot say anything in front of Azizullah. 

Shahla is angry: She blames Rahima for Arif beating their mother. Rahima had hoped he would calm down, but his “toxic anger never went away, not without his medicine” (101). Shahla tells Rahima that she has forgotten the dangers of being a woman. Arif, in his rage, badly injured Raisa’s shoulder. He realizes, as is the common belief, that it is bad to have a house full of young women. Shahla suspects that Arif may be planning to marry them off.

Rahima remembers a conversation between her mother and Khala Shaima. Khala Shaima believes that it will be difficult to find a suitor for Parwin. This is why she believes it is so important for Raisa’s girls to be educated: If they have an education, they will at least have something. Parwin is special, but Khala Shaima reminds Raisa, “Men have little need for special girls” (104). Rahima apologizes to her mother. Raisa accepts her apology, but tells her that things will be changing soon, and it will be out of the women’s hands. She says that men are unpredictable.  

Shekiba wants to take the deed to the local hakim, but she does not know if Azizullah will allow her to do so, because “Men were, after all, unpredictable creatures” (105). She decides not to ask him permission. Marjan grows uncomfortable with Shekiba after talking with Shekiba’s aunt, Zarmina. Marjan warns Shekiba not to behave in her house as she did in Bobo Shahgul’s. Shekiba wonders what Zarmina told her. At dinner, Marjan tells Azizullah that she has something she needs to discuss with him.

Shekiba hears Azizullah and Marjan having sex. She recalls similar sounds in Bobo Shahgul’s house and remembers her aunts discussing it and cracking jokes with each other, “rare moments of camaraderie amongst the women” (106). She hears their subsequent conversation. Marjan is worried Shekiba will put a curse on their house, as she did with Bobo Shahgul. Marjan wants to send Shekiba back to her family to avoid scandal. Shekiba’s “felt betrayed and then wondered why she was surprised by her aunt’s accusations” (107). Azizullah believes sending Shekiba back will cause a rift between the families. There may be a way to be rid of her, while at the same time securing their position in the community. He will talk to Hafizullah about it.

Shekiba begins to fear for her life. She nervously asks Marjan what Zarmina said about her: She said that Shekiba likes to argue, which is a lie. Azizullah and Hafizullah return two days later. Hafizullah is preparing for the king’s impending arrival. Azizullah plans to offer Shekiba to the king as a gift. Shekiba feels “insignificant and disposable to hear herself described that way. Again” (109). Hafizullah says that General Homayoon has been put in charge of finding soldiers to guard King Habibullah’s harem, but they do not trust men to do it. Instead, “he has collected a group of women who are kept as men” to guard them (110). Hafizullah believes Shekiba will be perfect for this role. The news staggers Shekiba, who had been eavesdropping. 

Khala Shaima likes to leave the girls with cliffhangers in her telling of Shekiba’s life story. Arif spends most of his time away, and when he is home, he is more surly than usual. Rahima spends more time working for Agha Barakzai in order to avoid her friends. She hates to be away from them, but she does not want to be changed back into a girl yet. She still holds tender feelings for Abdullah. Rahima tries to make up to Raisa, helping out with extra chores. Shahla remains angry with Rahima. Arif’s mother visits more often, “intrigued by the new wave of unrest” in their home (111). The grandmother tells Arif that it is time he finds a second wife; Arif says they do not have the space. Rahima eavesdrops. Arif says that he will soon be relieving himself of some of his daughters.

After eleven days, Abdul Khaliq and seven men, his father, uncles, and armed guards, arrive at their house. This takes everyone by surprise, even Arif. The women are nervous. Rahima takes them tea and then listens from the hallway. Abdul Khaliq proposes marrying his son to the Arif’s middle daughter, the bacha posh; Arif has kept Rahima as a boy too long and is breaking tradition. Rahima is horrified. Arif humbly says that it is not traditional to marry the middle daughter before the elder daughters. Abdul Khaliq agrees. He proposes to marry Shahla and Parwin to his cousins. Arif says he needs to consult with his elder family members, and Abdul agrees: He gives them a week to decide on the matter. The warlord and his entourage leave. Raisa begs Arif to reconsider because Rahima is only 13. Arif begins to refer to Rahima as a daughter again. He berates Raisa and beats her argument down. Arif refuses to allow Khala Shaima to meet with Abdul Khaliq’s family. He tells Raisa to turn Rahima back into a girl. Rahima realizes he wants to marry them off, and that “[m]en could do what they wanted with women” (118).