Summary

“In Other Rooms, Other Wonders,” pages 128 - 142, describes how a routine of sexual activity and eating together developed between Husna and Harouni; how Harouni’s daughter Sarwat learned of their relationship and disapproved; and how Husna, after hearing about things Sarwat said to Harouni about her, lost her temper. Harouni tells her to calm down, reminding her that he had already had one heart attack and he did not want her to cause him to have another. Husna persists, telling him how badly she is being treated by the servants (including Hassan, Harouni’s cook, first mentioned in “Saleema – Section 2”).

Husna gains power and status in the household, benefiting from the same manipulation of the household accounts and collecting money and possessions in a set of trunks. For his part, Harouni enjoys her company, particularly in the moments when he can watch her...