Chapter 4 Summary

Dinshawji leaves the party. The family argues over who spoiled the dinner. Gustad is determined to teach Sohrab obedience. The boy is not afraid. Dilnavaz throws herself between father and son as Gustad swings his belt, repeatedly striking his wife on the leg. Miss Kutpitia's voice sounds, demanding silence after bedtime. Gustad rants at Dilnavaz's witch friend. Dilnavaz hustles the children off to bed. Gustad's anger recedes, but he declares that until his son apologizes, Sohrab, whose life he once saved by throwing himself in front of a car, is dead to him.

Gustad cannot sleep. He mixes the remnants of all the bottles, and drinks the concoction at his grandfather's black desk, which Gustad had salvaged from his father's bookstore. He and Sohrab had always planned on building bookshelves for the few titles Gustad has retained, but now the boy is nothing...