The Pearl That Broke Its Shell

Rahima faces the trauma of her new life. Shanaz charges Rahima with cooking, something she had never learned to do because of her time as a bacha posh. She sees some boys playing outside and thinks that she could beat them at soccer. Shahnaz berates her for sitting like a boy. She had been “living like a boy for years. There was a lot of unlearning to do” (162). Gulalai visits for lunch. She wants to check on what kind of wife Rahima is. She is not impressed with her hosting skills. Shanaz tells Gulalai that Rahima insisted on cooking lunch. Gulalai is disappointed with Rahima; she will have to learn to be a good bride to Abdul Khaliq.

Rahima realizes that Shanaz will not be her ally. She resents that she has to share her home with Rahima. However, she is lonely, and treats Rahima alternately bitterly and friendly. It is difficult for Rahima to adapt to womanhood. Gulalai is critical of her every action. Abdul Khaliq is determined to make her into “a proper wife” (166). He seems to enjoy it when Rahima puts up a fight. Intercourse with him makes Rahima feel “dirty and weak” (166).

Two weeks into her new life, Rahima begins learning to cook under Shanaz’s instruction. She I summoned to Badriya’s compound to do laundry. Badriya is respected by Abdul Khaliq, and she is Gulalai’s favorite among his wives. While Abdul Khaliq and his men leave the compound daily, the women never leave. The wives seem to take pleasure in making Rahima work, even though they have plenty of help already. She works all day and is visited by Abdul Khaliq at night. According to Rahima, “[m]y insides burned and I walked as if a shard of glass was stuck in my underwear” (169). She only copes with him by letting her mind wander.

Rahima misses her sister’s deeply. When she asks Gulalai if she can see Parwin, she is denied. Gulalai slaps her for being impertinent. The second wife, Jameela, is the only one in the compound who is kind to Rahima. Badriya looks down on Rahima. Shanaz explains that this is because Abdul Khaliq no longer wants her. Shanaz, too, resents her for this, even though she does not like sleeping with Abdul Khaliq either. Jameela has the best accommodations after Badriya. She has three sons and two daughters and is more beautiful than Badriya and Shanaz. The first time they meet, she treats Rahima kindly and introduces her to her daughter, Laila, who is close to Rahima’s age. Jameela explains to her daughter that Rahima had been a bacha posh.

Jameela introduces Badriya’s son, Hashmat. Rahima is alarmed: She used to play soccer with him. He recognizes her too; he says, “You’re…hey, aren’t you…you’re Abdullah’s friend, aren’t you?” (174). This confuses Jameela and Laila. However, Jameela reprimands him for his impertinence toward one of his father’s wives. Rahima and her friends always avoided Hashmat; other children only associated with him because he was Abdul Khaliq’s son. Rahima runs away in shame. She returns to her room and cries. 

Parwin’s proximity is torture to Rahim. After a month, she throws caution to the wind and walks out of the compound to Abdul Khaliq’s cousin’s compound where Parwin lives. After several knocks, an older woman, a servant, answers. The servant is confused that Rahima is alone; Rahima lies that Gulalai was supposed to come with her. They are stopped by Lailuma, one of the wives. Rahima disarms her with flattery. Parwin is shocked to see her sister. They go back to her room. Rahima realizes that Parwin’s life is no different than hers. Parwin is thinner and her eyes have lost their liveliness. She no longer draws. Parwin reveals that Khala Shaima visited her briefly a few weeks ago. She tried to visit Rahima too, but she was prevented. Rahima suggests that they just run away. She reflects “If only I’d know then what the future held, I would have done just that” (181). Rahima is caught by members of the compound. 

Rahima is punished by Gulalai. During the beating, Rahima asks “If I’m so terrible then why don’t you send me back?” (182). This backfires: It strengthens Gulalai’s resolve to straighten her out. Gulalai focuses on making Rahima’s life miserable. Abdul Khaliq’s power has grown, and the wives all fear his visits. He leaves governance of them to his mother. Rahima is pregnant. She has missed her period for several months and has been waking up with morning sickness. Jameela confirms it based on these symptoms. Rahima’s mind reels. Jameela is concerned, but spares Rahima the details of all the things that can go wrong for young mothers during pregnancy. Shanaz realizes that Rahima is pregnant, and she tells Gulalai and Badriya to spite Rahima.

Things begin to change for Rahima, possibly due to her pregnancy. One day, Parwin and Khala Shaima visit. Rahima is six months pregnant; Khala Shaima notices immediately. Rahima asks about her family. Raisa has taken to smoking opium, like her husband, to cope with her loss. Arif has been prodigal with the money he received. Shahla is apparently doing fine—according to Arif. Khala Shaima begins to visit periodically, bringing Parwin with her. She picks back up where she left off on the story of Shekiba. The changes Rahima sees in Parwin breaks her heart, and almost makes her wish she had not seen her sister. However, Rahima reflects that “She, my meek and timid sister, was the one who acted in the end. She was the one who showed those around her that she’d had enough of their abuse” (187).