On the fifth day, Halima returned home with Lajjo after their exams. Lajjo went to the room Halima had arranged for her, a temporary refuge from her troubles. Her mother had neither asked her to come back nor come to see her, and Lajjo trembled, fearing what would happen once they discovered she wasn't at home.

As Halima closed the door to her own room, the evening had begun to settle in. Tonight, he was coming. She needed to prepare herself,For him.