Summary

Nadia and Saeed have their phones with them at all times. The narrator notes that, while a telephone line had been rare in their city for many decades following independence, phones had become plentiful and cheap. While Saeed tries to limit his use of the phone and uses it mostly to contact with Nadia, Nadia relies on her phone for company on “otherwise solitary, stationary nights” (41). As food grows scarce and the conflict escalates, the contrast between the “virtual world” and the real world deepens. Nadia orders psychedelic mushrooms online, and Saeed visits her apartment to do them with her. High, Saeed feels “filled with love,” “a desire for peace” (47) and grateful for his parents. Early in the morning, they hold hands and eat a few bites of cold food.

The narrative shifts then to an old man and retired navy veteran in San...