Discussion Leader - 5/10/2010 - Kelli

Why does Tajmir have such a difficult life and is forced to continue work he does not want to do? He is the only provider for his family and has no other option. His mother was killed at an early age and his father took on another wife. They continued to have children. As long as the children did not behave, especially Tajmir they were beaten. Tajmir, being the step-son was themost severely beaten and the father soon gave up on caring for the son.

Why does Leila keep Karim a secret?

She is forced to keep him a secret because the love letters and gifts are unacceptable to send and received. As she kept them hidden, the youngest brother found out and reported to the eldest brother, Mansur.

Why must she marry the man her family chose for her instead of Karim?

She is unable to marry the love of her life because tradition shows that it is a great dishonor to not marry who your family chooses for you. You are supposed to silently accept and live the life that they have chosen for you. Although it is not the life she wants, nor the man she wants, she feels she doesn't have an option. Unknown to her, Mansur knows of the letters and knows of the Aunt's husband's wish for his son to marry Leila. Because they are family, Mansur believes it is their right to have the choice and would first defend family before a man. This, and other reasons, she is left with a broken heart.

Why does Sonya pray for a girl?

Because there have been so many problems, she feels that having a boy would be a disappointed and in a sense, a curse onto the family. She wishes to make her husband happy and to provide for them a help to the household. She feels that having another girl is only going to provide more problems, the similar problems that they have already faced with the first daughters.