Summary

In Chapter 43, “Asma and Khalid,” Asma is content in the early days of her marriage to Khalid. Khalid encourages her love of reading and allows her to attend night school to continue her education. However, Asma soon realizes that Khalid is somewhat controlling and self-centered. Khalid loves and values Asma, but he seems to love and value himself and his work more. Asma makes peace with the facts of her marriage. The years pass, and they begin having children. In Chapter 44, “Abdallah” (XIX), Abdallah recalls the days following his father’s death when Abdallah returned to al-Awafi for the funeral. In Chapter 45, “The Man in the Desert,” an unspecified man stands in the desert, burns incense, and prays for Azzan and Najiya’s relationship to end. In Chapter 46, “Khawla” (II), Nasir comes back to Oman five years after Asma’s wedding. Khawla denies many...