Chapter 2, pages 77-86 Summary and Analysis

One night, Ibrahim, an employee, sees Firdaus in the garden and comforts her as she cries, and he denies crying though she sees the tears drop down his face. Her relationship with Ibrahim which ensues parallels her relationship with Miss Iqbal identically, insinuating that Firdaus was in love with Miss Iqbal. As Firdaus and Ibrahim hold hands, a memory emerges but is lost before she can voice it. After that night, she wants to talk to him but forgets what she wants to say before her lips part, and he treats her like every other female employee.

She tries to explain what happened to her friend, Fatheya, but when she tries to recall the scene, all of the faces merge together. When Fatheya asks if Firdaus is in love with Ibrahim, Firdaus claims that is impossible because...