The next day at dinner, the maid entered her room, saying everyone had to be at the table

according to the orders given to them, as an announcement was about to be made. She had

purposely skipped her breakfast and lunch—first, because Shehryaar had come back;

second, because she wasn’t feeling well.

She got up, showered, changed her clothes, and once she was ready, she went outside her

room. Sometimes, it felt so surreal to her that she could walk, that she could open the

handle of the room ...