Zaleekhah has invited her close friend, Nen, to join a family dinner with her Uncle Malek and Aunt Malek by the River Thames in 2018. The setting, with its pleasant riverside views, holds a sense of quiet anticipation, but Zaleekhah cannot shake the unease that accompanies this gathering. As soon as they arrive, her discomfort grows, especially when Uncle Malek begins to ask Nen increasingly personal questions, probing into her profession as a tattoo artist and her living situation. These questions, though seemingly innocent, come across as intrusive and push boundaries. Nen, unfazed by the intensity of Uncle Malek’s inquiries, calmly explains her recent breakup and that she had been forced to rent out her houseboat to make ends meet. When Uncle Malek boldly asks about her sexual orientation, Nen answers with calm composure, surprising both Zaleekhah and the rest of the family. The moment hangs in the air, leaving a sense of discomfort that only intensifies as the conversation continues.

Aunt Malek, eager to defuse the situation, offers a warm welcome, calling Nen a “friend” and attempting to soften the atmosphere. However, Nen’s response—expressing that they weren’t really friends—adds an awkward tension, disrupting the moment of supposed camaraderie. The atmosphere shifts as a toast to friendship is proposed, but when Nen mentions that she is sober and has celebrated eight years of sobriety, the conversation veers into uncomfortable territory. The adults react with a mixture of curiosity and disapproval, with Uncle Malek taking a particular interest in the subject. Zaleekhah, observing Nen’s composure in the face of judgment, feels a growing sense of admiration for her friend’s strength. Meanwhile, Zaleekhah feels a growing discomfort, increasingly alienated from the judgments and expectations of her relatives. The energy in the room changes when her glamorous cousin Helen arrives, bringing a burst of vitality, though the news of Lily’s medical tests soon casts a somber tone over the dinner.

As the evening unfolds, Uncle Malek grows louder and more impassioned in his drunken rant about cultural identity and the misrepresentation of the Middle East, intertwining his arguments with references to his pride in being British. He uses the Epic of Gilgamesh as a framework for discussing the values of loyalty and family, but his words seem to cut deeper as the conversation devolves into heated arguments about personal values. His criticism of Zaleekhah’s lifestyle, especially her choices that defy traditional family values, leaves a bitter taste in the air. The conversation turns hostile, with Aunt Malek caught between supporting her husband and maintaining some semblance of peace. Zaleekhah, overwhelmed by the tension, becomes increasingly aware of the deep divide within her family, where old-world expectations clash with modern ideologies. As the night drags on, Zaleekhah finds herself grappling with the sharp contrast between her family’s traditional views and her own evolving sense of identity. After dinner, Zaleekhah and Nen take a walk together, a moment of respite that allows them to debrief and process the emotions stirred by the evening. Nen, ever the philosopher, shares a poignant story about her first fish, tying the experience to her own personal growth and her ability to find meaning in difficult situations. Zaleekhah, reflecting on Nen’s wisdom, feels a sense of connection and comfort in their shared understanding. The evening culminates with Zaleekhah being gifted a lapis lazuli necklace by Nen, a gesture symbolizing their deepening bond. This chapter poignantly captures the internal conflicts faced by Zaleekhah as she navigates the complexities of family, identity, and the weight of societal expectations. Her connection with Nen offers a sense of clarity and hope amidst the turbulence of her family’s judgments, highlighting the strength of personal bonds in the face of adversity.