“An hour and forty-five minutes before Nazneen's life began-began as it would proceed for quite some time, that is to say uncertainly-her mother, Rupban, felt an iron fist squeeze her belly.”

“Nishi's sister, who was sixteen years old, had gone for a "holiday" in Sylhet and returned six months later with a husband and a swelling belly. Nishi, strong on forward-planning skills, was taking evasive action: she was going on a holiday of her own and she would return when she was twenty-five. At that ancient age the danger of marriage was over.”

“Tevis being childless meant you felt a little sorry for her, and a bit jealous. Probably the same way she felt about you.”

“Life made its pattern around and beneath and through her.”

“Her words were as sharp as an eyeful of sand. She never raised her voice. It was the kind of voice that never needed to be raised. It cut words to a fine point and launched them decisively (page 88).”

“He would not come again. This was good. No. This was bad. At least it was an end.”

“If God wanted us to ask questions, he would have made us men.”