The Pearl That Broke Its Shell

Shah and Shabnam grow as close as siblings can, despite their mothers’ animosity. One day, Agha Khalil, a colleague of Aasif, and his wife, Mahnaz, visit Aasif’s house. While the men discuss business, Mahnaz and Shekiba chat. It turns out Mahnaz is from Qala-e-Bulbul, Shekiba’s home village. Shekiba has heard nothing from her family since she was given to Azizullah. Bobo Shahgul died; part of Shekiba “had expected her grandmother to live on forever, pickled in her own bitter juices” (401). Her uncles had quarreled over Ismail’s good land; the family was torn apart by greed. The farm was not yielding good crops. They believed there was a curse on the soil. Shekiba smiles, imagining her grandmother telling her sons that it was Shekiba that cursed the land. Shekiba changes the subject to Amanullah’s wedding to Queen Soraya. Mahnaz invites Shekiba to see the queen give a speech. She asks Aasif permission to “Steal your wife” (403). Under pressure from Mahnaz and Agha Khalil, Aasif assents. 

On the day of the speech, Shekiba waits in the crowd with Mahnaz and Shah. She reproaches herself for ever having hoped to marry