Chapter 1
It is the summer of 1918, and it is worse than any summer before. The city walls, which had once acted as protection against the wind and dust, have been demolished. Many Indians died in the war, and now many are dying at home of influenza. Shams’ wife dies, and he becomes more spiritual, sitting at her grave every evening.
It becomes difficult to find space to bury the dead. The Hindus cremate their dead and scatter their ashes, but the Muslims must find new burial sites outside the city. Shroud-thieves go into graves at night and steal winding sheets used to cover the dead. Then they resell them, an easy way to make money off the epidemic. Once the graves are open, jackals and hyenas feast on the dead bodies. Grave-diggers are also making a lot of money, and have so much work, and are in such high demand, that they can do their jobs shoddily and still make profits. Sometimes they repurpose grave stones or, worse, graves themselves, especially those that have been ravaged by animals.
Back in Delhi, banias are increasing the prices of winding sheets. If anyone objects, they say the war has raised the price of cloth, or guilt them for not wanting to spend one last time on their loved ones. Ghassals, who clean the dead before they are buried, are also charging more and doing a less thorough job, often stealing the deceased’s jewelry. The city prays very intensely for these evils to go away, but either God does not hear them or, some fear, does not exist.
Chapter 2
Although Bilqeece has recovered, the constant reminders of death around her are bringing back her feelings of dread from when she was sick. In the summer, she catches the flu and comes down with a fever. Begam Nihal visits her, but is not of much use with her poor eyesight, and she cannot stay long since Mir Nihal is still weak.
A while later, Asghar visits his family with news that Bilqeece’s condition has gotten worse. He and his mother-in-law have been unable to sleep. Masroor and Dilchain return home with him, and the extra help allows him to sleep. One night, Bilqeece calls out, waking up Masroor. She asks for Asghar, who comes to her side. She tells her husband that she is dying, to forgive her for her faults, and to take care of their daughter. He takes her hand and, while Asghar reads the prayer for the dead, she passes.
Chapter 3
Asghar is devastated, and visits Bilqeece’s grave every day, giving her flower. One day he travels there on a tonga carriage, and the tonga driver sings a song which reminds Asghar of how he treated his wife so cruelly for so many years. He sits at her grave, weeping and praying for forgiveness. He enjoys the peace and quiet of the cemetery, feeling transported to a world away from hectic city life. He wishes he could stay there, and he does until the sun sets and the stars come out in the sky.
Analysis
