Pages 21-40

By: T. Babel

(Edited by Noelia Valero)

Summary:

In this chapter, our author returns home and takes a brief aside from the story. He goes to meet one of his dear friends. In this aside, he explains to his readers the idea behind his story and give us some background on the three women’s child. Rushdie provides a reasoning to the boys name, Omar Khayyam. After his break with his own life story, he continues on with the three sisters. He discusses the young boy's ambition and drive to escape. The boy is curious in his home and stumbles upon his grandfather's library, only to find it is a facade. He does discover one true collection of hypnosis books and begins to practice on the servants. In his exploration of hypnosis he becomes jealous of all the love and affection everyone seems to be feeling but him. He admires a young girl through his telescope and begin puberty early. With a wish to leave the house for his birthday, his mothers’ demise begins to unravel. The boy is allowed to go to school, which will then lead to the division of his mothers.

References:

Karachi - largest city, main seaport, and financial centre in Pakistan.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto - Pakistani politician and statesman. Served as the 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Baluchistan - arid desert and mountainous region on the Iranian plateau.

Rubaiyat - selection of poems from a book by Omar Khayyam. Done in the style of quatrains.

Patang - Indian Fighter Kite. Much heavier than traditional paper ones.