Chapter 5 Summary

Nazneen and Chanu are at Dr. Azad's house, uninvited. Dr. Azad is visibly shocked to see them, and he attempts to discourage them from staying. But Mrs. Azad overrules him and invites them to stay for dinner. Mrs. Azad is loud and uncouth, she orders her husband around, speaks her opinion, drinks beer openly, and dares to shush her husband and his guest when their talking disturbs her television-watching. Dinner is unpleasant, and Nazneen thinks that maybe Dr. Azad comes over to their place just for the food.

To Nazneen's surprise, Chanu requests a beer too, with the explanation that every now and then it won't hurt him, since he is an adult. Chanu reveals that he has plans to go home and build a house before Ruku gets spoiled by the Western culture. When he says the only thing holding him back...