Chapter 6

Summary

• Yara hears Fadi coming home at eight thirty and turns off the stove to greet him as their children, Mira and Jude, excitedly welcome him.
• Fadi jokes about being tired as the girls laugh and cling to his legs, showing a typical warm family scene.
• Yara observes Fadi's charisma and good humor, contrasting it with her own experiences and recalls waiting for her own father as a child.
• Fadi notices the smell of dinner ("Mujaddara") and compliments Yara's cooking, comparing it to his childhood meals in Palestine.
• Fadi's upbeat mood makes Yara contemplate asking him about going on a trip.
• The narrative then transitions to a past event, where Yara reflects on meeting Fadi during arranged marital introductions and their mutual desires for independence and success.
• Yara's history of expectations and societal pressures is revealed, including the dismissiveness of suitors to her goals and the cultural saying that likens daughters to their mothers.
• Fadi shares with Yara his aspirations of business ownership and their conversation shows they have common ground in their experiences and dreams.
• Returning to the present, Yara considers when to bring up the topic of the trip while they shower together, highlighting their nightly routine and her lingering doubts about the relationship.
• Yara debates whether Fadi's seeming good mood after a tough day is the right moment to discuss her wishes to chaperone a Scandinavian cruise for students.
• Years into their marriage, Yara struggles with understanding Fadi and finding trust, despite his reliability and success as a provider and friend.
• In the shower, Yara tentatively brings up the topic of the Scandinavian cruise, hoping Fadi will support her desire to volunteer as a chaperone.
• Fadi reacts negatively to the suggestion, questioning who would care for the children and the feasibility of adjusting his work schedule.
• An argument unfolds as Yara defends her wish for personal fulfillment against Fadi's concern over practical matters and familial reputation.
• Fadi's refusal escalates tensions, leading to Yara feeling misunderstood and unfairly constrained by her roles as a wife and mother.
• The chapter concludes with the couple eating dinner silently in their bedroom, Yara wrestling with her unfulfilled aspirations, and contemplating the notion of safety in obedience.
• Despite being physically close to Fadi, Yara feels emotionally distant and questions the life choices she has made, ultimately lying awake with a sense of missed opportunities for a different life.