logo

79 pages 2 hours read

Nadia Hashimi

The Pearl That Broke Its Shell

Nadia HashimiFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapters 64-69Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 64 Summary: “Shekiba”

Shah and Shabnam grow as close as siblings can, despite their mothers’ animosity. One day, Agha Khalil, a colleague of Aasif, and his wife, Mahnaz, visit Aasif’s house. While the men discuss business, Mahnaz and Shekiba chat. It turns out Mahnaz is from Qala-e-Bulbul, Shekiba’s home village. Shekiba has heard nothing from her family since she was given to Azizullah. Bobo Shahgul died; part of Shekiba “had expected her grandmother to live on forever, pickled in her own bitter juices” (401). Her uncles had quarreled over Ismail’s good land; the family was torn apart by greed. The farm was not yielding good crops. They believed there was a curse on the soil. Shekiba smiles, imagining her grandmother telling her sons that it was Shekiba that cursed the land. Shekiba changes the subject to Amanullah’s wedding to Queen Soraya. Mahnaz invites Shekiba to see the queen give a speech. She asks Aasif permission to “Steal your wife” (403). Under pressure from Mahnaz and Agha Khalil, Aasif assents. 

Chapter 65 Summary: “Shekiba”

On the day of the speech, Shekiba waits in the crowd with Mahnaz and Shah. She reproaches herself for ever having hoped to marry

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text