Summary

Part II begins from Fareeda’s perspective for the first time, in the Spring of 1991. She told Isra not to breastfeed Deya because Adam needs a son, and she wanted Isra to get pregnant as soon as possible. Four months later, Isra is pregnant. On the way home from the doctor she squabbles with Khaled and thinks about how he beat her early in their marriage. She tells Isra not to worry she is sure it will be a boy, and thinks how no one was so kind to her.

A few days later they visit with Fareeda’s friend - Umm Ahmed who just had a grandson. She knows Isra is nervous about having a boy but Fareeda thinks it may not be fair, but this is the way it was in order to secure lineage. They walk outside and Fareeda thinks...