The Pearl That Broke Its Shell

Shekiba receives 100 lashes as a punishment. When she comes to, Dr. Brown is attending her. She cannot rid her mind of the horror of Benafsha’s stoning. Tariq visits. Shekiba remembers that she is to be married and longs to be “in a new home, her own home, and with child” (312). She withholds this from Tariq; she does not want Ghafoor to find out. Tariq returns later to tell Shekib to be ready to leave in two days. She is excited; she found out Shekib is to be married. 

Badriya is to return to parliament after Eid: The government is to vote on whether the foreign company Abdul Khaliq provides security for will be allowed to build their oil pipeline. To Rahima, “Badriya’s voting made perfect sense now. Abdul Khaliq must have told her to watch for his friend’s signals” (313). It will be harder for Rahima to leave Jahangir this time around. Eid is a busy time for the wives. Rahima has to cook and clean but is not allowed to visit with any of the household’s guests. Rahima knows things will get worse for her if Abdul Khaliq remarries.

Shahla, now a grown woman, visits. They have not seen each other in over five years. They reminisce about Parwin. Gulalai interrupts their reunion, forcing Rahima to serve the other guests. Jameela intervenes, allowing their reunion to continue. She introduces Jahangir to Shahla. Shahla has a son, Shoib, and a baby girl, named after Parwin. She named the girl before Parwin’s suicide. Her mother-in-law wanted her to be named Rima, which, after Parwin’s death, the family began calling her. Shahla calls her Parwin in secret. Jameela continues distracting Gulalai. Shahla looks like she is doing well. Her mother-in-law is a kinder woman than Gulalai. Despite missing her family, Shahla is actually happy. The sisters continue reminiscing for as long as they are allowed. 

The women of the harem help Shekiba prepare for her marriage. Some are suspicious of Shekiba and believe she should have been stoned as well. Halima and Benazir, however, remain on her side. Halima gently reminds her what will be expected of her as a wife. News enters the harem that Amanullah is to be married. Only Shekiba connects this with her own engagement. The appointed day arrives. Tariq bids Shekiba farewell, wishing her all the best, and promising to pray for her. She takes her last opportunity to call out Ghafoor. She tells the guard that her family got rid of her because she is cursed, and that she now curses Ghafoor. Shekiba is led into the company of two men. She still holds hope that she is betrothed to Amanullah. However, when the men get her to recite her vow, it is not Amanullah’s name: It is Agha Baraan. Shekiba’s mind reels. She feels foolish for having hoped for the prince; nevertheless, she signs the marriage contract and leaves with her new husband.

On the way to Kabul, Rahima reflects on her reunion with Shahla. She does not think she would have been able to name her child after Parwin, or even after Khala Shaima. Despite the difficulty of Jahangir’s birth, she wishes for another child. She decides if she has a daughter, she will name her Shekiba. In the hotel room, Rahima is shocked to see that there is a television. However, before she can watch more than 30 seconds, one of Abdul Khaliq’s men enters the room and takes it away. Abdul Khaliq’s wives are forbidden from watching television. He does not want them to see the progress and freedom other women across the country experience. Rahima feels trapped and isolated. The women of parliament are frightened by the attack on Zamarud. Zamarud’s injuries have become infected; she is hospitalized and not expected to survive. Rahima spends as much time as possible with Hamida and Sufia. Abdul Khaliq’s guards follow her everywhere, except in parliament. Rahima goes to the learning center as much as possible.

Ms. Franklin teaches English and basic computer skills to Rahima, Hamida, and Sufia. One day, a tall, slender woman named Fakhria enters the center. She runs a women’s shelter. Ms. Franklin allows her to attend even though the center is supposed to be only for female parliamentarians. Fakhria’s sister was killed by her husband. She happened upon the woman’s shelter and started working there to assuage her grief. Fakhria’s husband, a kind man, supports her. An Afghan American woman runs the shelter. Fakhria tells them about Murwarid, a very young girl who had run away to the shelter after ruthless physical and sexual abuse by her husband. Fakhria hopes for parliament’s support for the shelter. Rahima is frozen, because “Too much of what she said sounded familiar” (331). She seems to hear Khala Shaima say, “Murwarid found her escape […] Why haven’t you found yours?” (331). 

One night, during dinner, Badriya is called down to the lobby to answer a phone call. Badriya soon returns; something is wrong. Jahangir is very ill. In a panic, the two women pack their belongings. Forty minutes later, they are back on the road. Rahima is in a state of panic; her son’s condition must be serious for Abdul Khaliq to have called. Even Badriya acts kindly toward Rahima—a first. Rahima notes, “Never before had she addressed me with endearments” (334). She starts to pray.