There is an awkward atmosphere in the house in Mariam’s interactions with Laila: “Sometimes she could smell Rasheed on her […] his sweat on the girl’s skin, his tobacco, his appetite” (215). While the two women seek to avoid each other, Rasheed insists that there is conversation at his dinner table and humiliates Mariam in front of Laila, calling her a lowly village harami, an insult that still stings (216). He pronounces that she is to be Laila’s servant. He then turns to Laila,criticizing her parents’ “leniency,” and says that in his house, her honor will be of paramount consideration (217). She will not leave the house unaccompanied by Rasheed and when she does, she is to wear a burqa. He also pits the women against each other, making Mariam “his eyes and ears” and thereby Laila’s supervisor (218).

When the two women later cross in the courtyard, Mariam is hostile to Laila, informing her that she will not be her servantor her friend, and that she must do her share of the chores.