Not Without My Daughter

The chapter opens with the celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. During this two-week holiday, Iranian people clean their houses, buy new footwear, and participate in various festivities like dinner parties, teas, and receptions at their relatives’ homes. Betty’s extended family gathers around the table to celebrate the New Year. Despite the air raid that briefly interrupts the celebration, life goes on, and the family continues with their festivities. As part of the New Year celebration, the family goes on a trip to the shores of the Caspian Sea, where Betty and Mahtob feel mostly isolated and uncomfortable.

Upon returning to Tehran, Moody secures a hospital job through Nasserine’s cousin and is initially thrilled at the opportunity, but his excitement wanes when he realizes that he can no longer keep as close a watch over Betty’s activities. Betty takes advantage of this situation by discreetly exploring the possibility of escape and contacting a woman named Miss Alavi, who plans to help Betty and Mahtob to flee through Zahidan, near the Pakistani border. They plan to leave on a Thursday, a day when Moody will be working at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Betty’s frustration with Moody’s unpredictable behavior grows, but she remains focused on the hope of a new life.