Chapter summaries Counting Down with You Tashie Bhuiyan

Counting Down with You Chapter 17: Fake Dating Goes Public

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter spans three days, from a Friday night through Sunday. After Ace’s fake-dating announcement during tutoring, Myra gets a ride home with Ace and his brother Xander, who is suspicious. Xander asks for a detour to Walmart, heightening the tension. At home, Myra FaceTimes her parents in Bangladesh; her father asks about her physics lab, and Myra lies—guilt weighing on her. The next morning, Dadu invites her grocery shopping. While out, Myra learns through friends that Ace has changed his Facebook relationship status to “in a relationship” with “Karina Ahmed”—the fake name they agreed on. She is furious. On Sunday, Samir’s friends invade the house, forcing Myra to hide upstairs. She receives a text from an unknown number (Ace) with a shirtless selfie; after an exasperated exchange, she saves his contact as “Alistair Clyde.” The chapter ends with Myra seeking comfort by reading aloud to Dadu.

Key Events

  • Friday night: Xander’s ulterior motives during the car ride; Myra lies to her father about the physics lab.
  • Saturday morning: Myra and Dadu go grocery shopping; Myra discovers Ace’s public Facebook relationship status.
  • Myra’s angry internal reaction and her decision to ignore the chaos until Monday.
  • Sunday: Samir’s friends take over the living room; Myra stays in her room to avoid them.
  • Ace texts Myra a shirtless selfie with a promise to explain the next day.
  • Myra saves his contact name as “Alistair Clyde” and later finds solace reading to Dadu.

Character Development

  • Myra: Her guilt over lying to her parents intensifies, especially after the “physics lab” deception. She struggles to balance her obligations with the escalating fake relationship. Her bond with Dadu provides emotional stability—she trusts her grandmother’s judgment and finds comfort in their routine.
  • Ace: He takes bold, public action by posting the relationship on Facebook without consulting Myra. His casual text and shirtless photo show an oblivious, playful side, but also a determination to maintain the charade.
  • Dadu: Her warmth and attentiveness contrast with Myra’s parents’ distance. She notices Myra’s stress, offers comfort, and buys her a book—reinforcing their close relationship.
  • Xander: His calculating behavior in the car hints at deeper suspicions about Ace and Myra’s arrangement.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Deception and its emotional toll: Myra’s lies to her parents (about the lab, about Ace) weigh on her conscience. The fake relationship expands from a private agreement to a public social-media claim, increasing the risk of discovery.
  • Family dynamics and support: Dadu represents unconditional love and understanding, while Myra’s parents are physically and emotionally distant. The contrast highlights Myra’s need for a confidante.
  • Escape through routine: Reading to Dadu becomes a coping mechanism—a “way to get out of my own head.” The act of reading aloud symbolizes safety and comfort amidst chaos.
  • Digital exposure: The Facebook status and text selfie show how quickly a private arrangement can become public, forcing Myra to confront the consequences of the fake dating plan.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks a turning point where the fake relationship shifts from a verbal agreement to a visible social-media claim. Ace’s unilateral decision forces Myra to face the real-world implications of their deal. Her interactions with her parents and Dadu deepen the emotional stakes, while the introduction of Xander’s suspicion foreshadows future complications. The chapter also reinforces Myra’s core conflict: balancing her responsibilities to her family with her own desires and the chaos Ace brings into her life.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Myra lie to her father about the physics lab, and how does she rationalize it?
Myra lies because she was actually tutoring Ace, not working on a lab. She tells herself it’s a “white lie” that won’t affect her relationship with her parents, but she still feels guilt, admitting she is “used to lying to them.”

2. What does Ace’s decision to change his Facebook relationship status reveal about his character?
It shows that Ace is willing to take bold, public actions without consulting Myra first. He seems to view the fake relationship as a game or performance, but his actions also indicate he is committed to the ruse—possibly more than Myra anticipated.

3. How does Myra’s relationship with Dadu contrast with her relationship with her parents in this chapter?
Dadu is present, attentive, and nurturing—she notices Myra’s stress, buys her a book, and provides comfort. In contrast, Myra’s parents are far away in Bangladesh, and conversations with them require lies and emotional distance. Dadu offers Myra a safe space to be herself.

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