Summary

In Chapter 15 Perveen endures the seclusion at each monthly period and finds her mother had to submit to the same custom before moving out of the Mistry House. She is sent to a doctor because she is failing to conceive a child, though she cannot decide whether an education or a family life is more important. At the doctor’s, they take samples to test for pregnancy and venereal disease. Chapter 16 finds Perveen and Cyrus inflicted with gonorrhea. Cyrus admits that his father took him to a brothel when he was 16, but does not admit to additional sexual contact with other woman. Perveen believes they should wait a year before having sex, to avoid the possibly of a pregnancy. As time passes, Perveen dreads her monthly seclusion, the lack of female friends, and her over-bearing mother-in-law. Her situation affects her dreams and day-to-day...