Chapter 6 Summary

Nazneen and Chanu rush Raqib to the hospital in an ambulance. His illness brings about profound changes in both of his parents. By their third day in the hospital, Nazneen no longer wants to pull away from Chanu and Chanu is not only speaking a little less and a little more softly, but he is also speaking directly to his wife instead of to an imaginary audience behind her. Nazneen's irritation with Chanu begins to subside when she realizes that he is looking for the same fundamental things she seeks, but that he has a different approach to them.

Nazneen believes she willed Raqib to live and the thought makes her very happy. Her friends Nazma, Sorupa, Jorina, and Razia come to visit them in the hospital. Razia practices a few English words and phrases from her language class. She is now wearing...