Summary

The fourth chapter, "Opening the Purple Box: An Interview with Professor Julius Superb," transcribes a conversation between the journalist Zulfikar Manto and Professor Julius Superb. Manto begins the conversation by complementing Superb’s recent piece concerning the phoenix myth. Superb in turn claims to have read “all [Manto’s] articles that [he’s] come across” (35). Manto asks how Superb met Darashikoh Shezad. Darashikoh was his student, memorable for his note taking. Superb had invited “Daru” to his special discussion group (36), finding this student “brilliant” (37). Superb remembers with disappointment how Daru quit school to work in a bank.

Zulfikar then asks how Superb learned of Darashikoh’s arrest. Superb heard about this case like “the rest of the city did,” through word of mouth (38). Superb suspects the case’s popularity is due to the talk of corruption and conspiracy that the defense raised. Lastly...