The Pearl That Broke Its Shell

Rahima returns home. She rushes from the car to meet Jameela, crying out for Jahangir. Jameela catches her and holds her close. She tells her, “Rahima-jan, Rahima-jan, God has decided to take your son! He’s taken your little boy, dear girl!” (341). Rahima hears someone wailing. It is her own voice. Abdul Khaliq enters. He is distraught. He and Rahima have their “first intimate moment” as Rahima realizes what Jameela said is true.

Rahima spirals into hysterical confusion. This tragedy is unprecedented in Abdul Khaliq’s household. She clings to Jahangir’s body, praying for life to return to his face. Hands pull Rahima away; she hates them. Gulalai wails in mourning; Rahima hates her. Of the people who come to pay their respects in the following days, Rahima only notices the absence of Arif and Raisa. Abdul Khaliq curses Arif, “not only as a son-in-law but also as a former commander” (344). Abdul Khaliq has lost all respect for Arif. Khala Shaima tells Rahima that “the medicine had got the best of [her] parents” and “It was hard to tell which of them was worse than the other” (344). She is concerned for Rohila and Sitara. Rahima’s grandparents visit, embarrassed because of Arif and Raisa. Khala Shaima tells Rahima that Rohila and Sitara are resilient.

Rahima feels like she abandoned her son by going to Kabul. She should never have left him. They bury Jahangir at the Khaliq family plot. Abdul Khaliq is changed. He says it was Jahangir’s naseeb. Rahima’s health deteriorates. She loses weight. Jameela and Khala Shaima are worried. Rahima’s head feels “like an empty, dark room” (346). She is unable to ask what happened to her son for four weeks. Jameela is reluctant to tell her. After Rahima, she feels the most guilt over Jahangir’s death. A fever had set in, accompanied by stomach pains and bowel problems. Red spots appeared on his belly. Jahangir became delirious. Abdul Khaliq panicked and prepared to take his son to the hospital. He returned the next day, crying. Jameela had never before seen him like that. The doctor had tried his best, but it was to no avail: Jahangir succumbed to the stomach infection.

Rahima is tired of praying. She asks why Abdul Khaliq did not immediately take his son to the hospital. Jameela reluctantly tells her Gulalai prevented him from doing so. She thought she could cure the boy herself. Rahima feels “a fresh hatred for Bibi Gulalai,” who prevented Jahangir from receiving proper care and then blamed Rahima for her absence. Gulalai always boasted about her remedies. She wanted to be “the grandmother who stepped in and cured her grandchild while his shameful mother played in Kabul” (350). Rahima asks the most painful question of all: “Jameela-jan…did he…did he cry for me?” (350). He did. Jameela assures her that he was not alone at the end: Abdul Khaliq held him, and he loved Jahangir very much, 

Shekiba takes stock of her new situation. She is grateful that Aasif did not try to touch her. She also realizes that he loves Gulnaz, which indicates “he had a heart” (351). Shekiba realizes he had not been able to stop Benafsha’s execution, so he had stopped Shekiba’s. After two weeks, Shekiba’s back is mostly healed. Her situation improves, though “She knew from experience that she should not consider herself a permanent fixture of any man’s house, even if she was his wife” (351-352). Aasif is polite but distant with Shekiba; Gulnaz seems pleased by this.

The palace prepares for Amanullah’s wedding to Soraya Tarzi. Habibullah is not pleased with the marriage because her father speaks his mind: Agha Tarzi believes the king is not doing enough to modernize Afghanistan. Gulnaz knows Aasif hates the king, and she connected him with Benafsha’s stoning. That night, Aasif returns to Shekiba’s rooms. He tells her, “You are my wife. You have an obligation to fulfill” (345). Aasif undresses her. Shekiba “clenched her teeth and became Aasif’s wife” (354).

Shekiba is relieved, now that she knows what to expect from sex. Her only reprieve is when she is on her period. After five months, however, Aasif questions why she has still not conceived, after all of her talk about her family’s propensity toward bearing sons. Shekiba realizes her purpose in this childless household. Aasif is furious. He reminds her that he saved her from execution. He storms out. Shekiba thinks, “Not a man, not a woman. I am nothing” (356). When they are alone, Gulnaz tells Shekiba of the lengths she has gone to become pregnant. She suspects that having a son is not in Aasif’s naseeb.

Gulnaz guesses that Shekiba felt more comfortable being a man. Shekiba says yes, but it did not change the fact that she was still vulnerable as a woman. Aasif’s sister had told Gulnaz about Benafsha. Aasif loved Benafsha even before he married Gulnaz. Benafsha loved Aasif so much that she protected him with her life. Because of this, Aasif was able to save Shekiba. Shekiba is grateful to Benafsha. 

Rahima’s grief for her son is intense. Gulalai, however, will not leave her alone; she reminds her of the chores that must be done. Abdul Khaliq has become withdrawn. Khala Shaima still summons the strength to visit. Rahima tells Khala Shaima about Kabul. Something is on her mind. Khala Shaima understands intuitively, as a “conversation that happened in unspoken words, in false words, in knowing glances” takes place between them. Rahima needs an escape.