Summary

In Chapter 9, Sammar took the bus to the hospital to see Rae. She thought about Tarig's training at the medical school, Amir's birth, and Tarig’s death. She wondered if it was a bad idea to visit Rae, telling herself she "should go back home" (80). Yet she could not get off the bus.

When she found Rae's bed, he said he was happy to see her. She was overcome with feeling. During their conversation, he remembered he had a gift for her: a bottle of perfume. They became noticeably embarrassed afterwards. Then Sammar told him about Mahasen’s letter. She shared its contents with him. Rae did not think Mahasen understood Sammar.

Rae told Sammar his friend Fareed often asked him how he could know so much about Islam and not accept it as truth (88). Sammar said she wondered the same thing, but...