Hope And Other Dangerous Pursuits

Halima thinks about how her son, Farid, saved her from drowning during their crossing. Although some people believe her, others do not: “Crazy woman, they said, fingers tapping their temples. You have to forgive her, they said, she’s been through so much” (117). Halima also believes that Farid saved his sister and younger brother. Her husband is furious when he learns they tried to emigrate illegally, saying she should have paid him off to divorce her instead. Halima does not return home to her husband nor to her mother, who she fears will convince her to go back to her husband, but rather rents a room in a slum. She waits at the market every day to earn money cleaning or laundering for rich people. On bad days when she can’t find work, she wonders why Farid bothered to save her. One day while she is cooking dinner, Maati comes to her door, hands her divorce papers, spits on her, and leaves. Halima remembers her mother telling her that Maati had tried to marry another girl, but the girl’s parents refused. Then she remembers Farid wishing that Maati had divorced her a long time ago.