Can she even be certain of what she saw?
-- Narrator (Chapter 1 - Salma)

Importance: This quote exemplifies Salma's desire to be uncertain of what she saw in Alia's coffee grounds. It is unclear of whether Salma is actually unsure, but it is clear that she does not want to be correct. This suggests that she and Aila have a special relationship, perhaps that Alia is Salma's favorite child, and that she cannot fathom anything bad happening to her daughter. This quote leads Salma to continue thinking about the cup reading, and she thinks she might have seen a horse rather than a zebra. The two omens have very different connotations, the horse being more positive, again emphasizing the idea that Salma only wants the best for Alia. Perhaps by thinking she has seen something else, Salma feels as though she might be able to change Alia's fate.

But it is another world with Aya, the...
-- Narrator (Chapter 2 - Mustafa)