Summary

The men who brought Parvana’s father home told Parvana and Mrs. Weera they had found him lying outside the prison. He was so weak and tired it took Mrs. Weera several days of nursing before she got him strong enough to talk. When he did begin talking, Parvana was surprised to come home from work one day to find her father speaking in English with Homa. He asked Parvana if she’d brought home another educated woman, but Parvana had only brought home onions. Parvana worked to buy medicine to make her father better.

Meanwhile, Shauzia’s grandfather had begun looking for a husband for the girl. He believed the money they would be paid as a bride price for her would support the family. Shauzia, however, did not want to get married. She planned to leave her family as soon as possible...