Summary

As this section opens in the cafe. the American notices a scar on Changez's arm and is told that it is not from a rope burn, even though it looks that way. Instead it comes from an accident as a child when he spilled some candle wax. Festive overhead lights come on and the two are reminded once again of the streets of New York.

Changez's story continues with a description of dinner with Erica and her parents. Dressed in a traditional kurta, he made his way uptown, past the disapproving and snobbish doorman and into Erica's penthouse apartment. Changez's impression of Erica's room was that it was "lived in" and it reminded him of home. Erica showed him her completed manuscript and announced that she planned to send it off to an agent. She was somewhat unsettled to see it go, to...