Summary

The beginning of the book tells the beginning of Rahima's story, as well as the start of Shekiba's story. The chapters alternate between Rahima and Shekiba.

In Chapter 1, Rahima is introduced. She is the third of five sisters, the others being Shahla, Parwin, Rohila, and Sitara. The older girls, all but Sitara, are caught getting back to their house later than their mother (Madar, Raisa) had approved. They try to hide the fact that boys were bothering them on their way home from school because they are afraid their parents will keep them home from school, for going through the village has proven to be dangerous. The girls' father (Padar, Arif) decides to keep them home from school.

Rahima is not yet of marriageable age, and so she is given the task to go to the market to fetch food items for the...