Chapter 21 November 1963
It’s the night of Niloo’s engagement party. Ellie has a green silk dress, but she is worried it is to juvenile. She drinks a glass of champagne (probably a bit too fast for a non-drinker). Discover that Homa was the first guest to arrive and is helping in the kitchen. Also Homa looks great in the dress Ellie gave her (a twinge of jealousy).
In the kitchen she sees Homa providing Mehrdad with a taste of something. Ellie runs away followed by Homa. They have a discussion argument.
It’s not enough that you came to my highschool, stole my friends, competed with me every step of the way? That you are a maniac at our university, obssessed with politics and grades? Now you have to flirt with my fiance too?
Homa is confused, thinks Ellie has been drinking, says she will go home and pretend the conversation never happened.
Mehrdad is also confused.
Ellie is feeling poorly and asks to lie down
Chapter 22 November 1953
Ellie is lying down in the Colonel’s study berating herself for her jealousy.
Her tantrums exhaust her
The Colonel comes in (a bit weird and creepy). Ellie decides to be mature and think the best (I’m sure this is a mistake).
He talks about the women of her generation and how fierce that are and how much he admires them. He asks about her friends. What are they studying? Who is the bravest?
He tells her that his younger sister is in a communist group.
She tells him Homa is the bravest.
[Colonel] “A brave law student is probably an organiser?”
Ellie tells him that Homa organised the recent student protest.
The next day Homa is picked up by the secret police, charged with trying to bring down the Kingdom.
Chapter 23 November 1953
Ellie meets Sousan in the park. Sousan can’t believe Ellie said anything to the Colonel.
Ellie thought she was being polite, chatting to a father-like figure.
Sousan reveals he is the secret police and that he doesn’t even have a sister. She can’t leave him because she will lose the children (divorce laws are biased against women).
Ellie realises she was the one who caused Homa to be arrested.
She never says Sousan again.