Amal Unbound

The next day, Fozia visits Amma but ignores Amal, causing Amal to anxiously wonder what village gossip is saying about her encounter at the store. Amal vows to follow her family’s rules from now on and works hard for the rest of the day until Seema rushes in, followed by Abu, who confronts Amal about what happened. Amal learns that the man who hit her was Jawad Sahib. Abu is furious with Amal for not doing exactly what Jawad wanted. Amal argues that Jawad was in the wrong and it is unfair that she is in trouble, but Abu knows that Jawad has the power to hurt their family. Jawad will meet with Abu in a few days. Amal worries how Jawad will punish her. 

Amma returns to working around the house. Amal apologizes for sassing Jawad, and Amma apologizes for not being a good mother. Amma assures Amal that her depression was not caused because she had a baby girl. Although she and Amal’s father hoped for a boy who could care for them as they age and eventually take over the family farm, they love all their girls. Amma reassures Amal that everything will work out with Jawad. Seema thinks Jawad will not punish Amal—that all the cruel things he has done are just rumors—but Omar stays silent. 

Amal and Seema listen from their bedroom when Jawad arrives the next morning. Abu asks Jawad to forgive Amal’s misunderstanding. Jawad coldly refuses, saying that if he does not punish Amal, he will lose respect in the village. Abu is in deep financial debt to Jawad, who says he will take Amal to work in his home as a servant, and Amal will pay off Abu’s debts. Abu refuses, but Jawad suggests that any alternatives will be worse. Jawad gives Abu a few days to think it over. Amal runs desperately out of the house.

Amma and Abu argue about Jawad’s demand for Amal to become his servant. Although Abu loves Amal, he thinks they have no choice but to send her to Jawad. He believes Jawad’s promise that Amal will be a house servant and will not be harmed. Amma is angry that Abu took loans from Jawad without her knowledge, but Abu says the money saved their family when their crops failed. He accuses Amma of causing the situation by refusing to take care of the home after the baby was born. Abu apologizes for taking money from Jawad but says he cannot lose his father’s farm. He promises he will quickly pay Jawad back, and Amal will only be gone for a short time. 

Amal says goodbye to her family and friends. Hafsa suggests that Amal run away and hide in her house, but Amal knows it would not be safe. Omar berates himself for not thinking of another solution. Seema finds the doll Amma made for Amal when she was little and gives it to her. Amma gives Amal an old phone and some money and tells her to be strong. Only Abu is missing. Amal remembers him standing over her and kissing her forehead while he thought she slept. Jawad’s driver arrives and Amal leaves her old life behind.

Ghulam, the driver, deposits Amal in the sumptuous entry of Jawad’s estate. Amal is amazed at how large and beautiful the house is compared to her family’s home. Amal briefly meets Bilal, a teenage boy, and Nabila, a sharp-jawed girl about her own age. Amal follows Nabila into a more run-down section of the estate where the servants live and work. Nabila shows Amal a small windowless room that will be hers, but is stopped by Mumtaz, an older woman who announces surprisingly that Amal will be in a room next to Nasreen Baji, Jawad’s mother. Mumtaz sends Amal to the kitchen to meet the other servants. She comforts Amal, but Amal feels that home is extremely far away.

Amal helps in the kitchen, meeting Hamid the cook and his young daughter, Fatima. Amal helps Mumtaz serve Jawad’s meal. Jawad mocks Amal, but his mother, Nasreen Baji, intervenes. Jawad says Amal is lucky his mother was in the car the day Amal got hit; she is the reason Amal did not get a worse punishment. Upset, Amal tries to help Nabila in the kitchen, but the girl rebuffs her. Amal sits with the other servants for their meal, but they gossip about Amal in front of her. Stung, Amal returns to the kitchen where Jawad appears and taunts her, making her cry. 

Amal’s new room is connected to Nasreen Baji’s large suite. It is much nicer than the dreary space that was initially going to be hers. Amal plans to call her mother while she waits for Nasreen, but Jawad appears, confiscates her phone, and insults her. Amal claps back, angering Jawad, but Nasreen intervenes again. Jawad responds lovingly to his mother before leaving on a trip. Amal brushes Nasreen’s hair and learns she is to be Nasreen’s personal servant. Amal also discovers that Nasreen hails from a local family that lives near Amal’s home: Nasreen’s nieces were Amal’s classmates. Amal finds Nasreen “easy to talk to” and feels less fearful (91).