The Pearl That Broke Its Shell

Rahima begins her life as a bacha posh. Her grandmother is indignant; her father, high on opium, barely notices the change. Khala Shaima reassures Raisa that they have made the correct choice. Rahima is excited for her first errand as a boy. She goes to purchase flour and oil. Rahima bargains with the shopkeeper; he recognizes her as a boy. The shopkeeper “saw the bacha posh but it was just as Madar-jan had promised—people understood” (50). She runs home, feeling liberated by the freedom being a boy offers her.

Rahima takes on chores and household duties that Arif has been neglecting due to his drug use. Arif begins to enjoy seeing Rahima as Rahim. Rahima uses her new power as a “son” to get her sisters to do chores that she would normally have to do, such as bringing their father food and tea. When school starts again, Rahima is in the boy’s class. This will put to test the social acceptance of the bacha posh, especially since Rahima’s cousin, Muneer, will be in her class. Class goes normally. The boys’ class is very similar to the girls. Rahima walks home with two neighbor boys, Ashraf and Abdullah.