Brick Lane

This chapter consists entirely of letters from Hasina about her fate as a single woman pursued because of her beauty. During the course of this one-way correspondence about the ups and downs of her life in which she insists on flaunting the Muslim codes restricting women, we learn that Nazneen now has two healthy daughters.

Hasina’s letter about the strike in her garment factory mirrors Chanu’s unemployed status. Six months later, Hasina reveals she has lost her job due to her friendship with a man that appeared lewd and jeopardized the reputation of the factory. In the next letter, Mr. Chowdhury comes to her rescue and in the following letter she reveals that he accused her of being a whore and raped her. She feels cursed, her words indicating she has succumbed to her fate and reveals for the first time awareness about her role in her downfall. In the next letter she is desperate, stating she has gone to every factory in Dhaka but cannot find a job.

In March 1995, Hasina writes that she has received a proposal of marriage. In the next letter, arriving a month later, Hasina is living with her husband and taking pride in being a good housekeeper.