The Pearl That Broke Its Shell

Rahima had refused Abdul Khaliq on their wedding night, and now he is impatient. Rahima had spent an anxious night in her new home after being shown to her room by Gulalai, her new mother-in-law. That morning, she met one of her co-wives, Shahnaz. Shanaz showed her around, treating her coldly all the while. After telling her about being a bacha posh, Shanaz told her, “Well, don’t expect to be treated like the special son here” (156).

Shanaz explained the living situation: Each wife has their own home on Abdul Khaliq’s compound. Badriya is his first wife, Jameela is his second, and Shahnaz is his third. Shanaz warned Rahima to be careful around Gulalai. Abdul Haidar lives right next door, meaning Parwin is close by. However, Abdul Khaliq’s cousins rarely bring their wives, so there is little chance that Rahima will see Shahla or Parwin. Rahima will be confined to the house she shares with Shanaz.

Shanaz is from a village that Abdul Khaliq and his men took back from the Taliban and raided. Abdul took Shanaz as loot and married her.