Summary

This section includes two chapters titled “The Village Crumbles” and “Erotic Republic.” The first chapter is told from Bahman’s perspective in Isfahan, Iran in June 2009. Bahman is still in divorce court, watching 6 divorces over the course of an hour. One particular situation is an older man who claims his wife has been missing for 16 years. The judge asks if they can find her, but he says she is a good woman, he just wants her to be happy. The judge’s assistant leaves the courtroom and returns with paperwork that she hands to the judge. The judge reads the paper, and Bahman realizes the woman is dead. The judge grants him the divorce (without telling him the truth). The old man is confused, but thanks the judge, handing him a bag of pistachios.

Bahman is next and explains he has the papers...