Home Fire

The last two chapters of the book are narrated from Karamat’s perspective. After a sleepless night, he walks along the Thames and contemplates the idea of passing the legislation that would allow him to strip single-passport holders of their British citizenship if they commit a crime against the state. He receives a call from Eamonn, who left London to escape media attention, and now is in Normandy with his friends. Although just recently Eamonn was physically constraint by Karamat’s security guides so that he wouldn’t attempt to see Aneeka, his tone is conciliatory. Despite this, Karamat is still deeply disappointed in his son for falling for Aneeka, whom he calls, albeit not to his son’s face, a “manipulative whore” (270).

Eamonn reminds his father that by not contacting Aneeka he fulfilled his part of the deal, and asks if Karamat had helped her, as was agreed. In response, Karamat snaps at his son and asks him if Aneeka gave him his “first really great blow job” (273), and that’s why he is so keen on being with her. Eamonn doesn’t start an argument and instead tells his father that they are done and hangs up in disgust.