Chapter summaries Counting Down with You Tashie Bhuiyan

Chapter 36: Myra Chooses Bravery and Confesses Her Feelings

⚠️ 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

During spring break, Myra goes to support Samir at his robotics competition. While watching him thrive, she reflects on her own suppressed passions and realizes she wants a real relationship with Ace, even if it means hiding it from her parents. After the competition, Samir apologizes for telling their parents about Ace. Myra accepts and is moved to act. She texts Ace, and they FaceTime. She confesses she wants their relationship to be genuine, not a pretense. Ace reassures her she is worth the difficulty and reveals he finished reading The Merchant of Venice. He then asks her on a date, and she says yes.

Key Events

  • Myra attends Samir's robotics competition on the Wednesday of spring break.
  • She observes Samir’s confident teamwork and notices Leah, a former tutee, watching him.
  • Myra resolves that being with Ace is worth lying to her parents; she wants the relationship to be real.
  • Samir apologizes for inadvertently causing Myra’s punishment by mentioning Ace.
  • Myra texts Ace “I’m sorry,” and he immediately FaceTimes her.
  • During the call, Myra admits she wants a real relationship, not a fake one.
  • Ace says she is worth it and shows he read The Merchant of Venice.
  • Ace asks Myra on a date; she accepts.

Character Development

  • Myra: Takes a major step toward self-assertion. She moves from passive longing to active choice, deciding to claim a relationship on her own terms. Her willingness to “lie” to her parents shows a new pragmatism and courage. She also accepts Samir’s apology gracefully, signaling emotional growth.
  • Samir: Shows accountability and remorse. His apology is sincere and specific—he promises never to mention Ace to their parents again without consulting Myra. This deepens their sibling bond.
  • Ace: Demonstrates patience, devotion, and genuine effort. He finished The Merchant of Venice for Myra and confidently asks her out, showing he is ready for a real commitment despite the constraints.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Bravery / Lionheart: Myra’s internal mantra—“I have to be brave”—recurs. Her decision to confess is framed as an act of courage, linked to Ace’s earlier “lionheart” nickname.
  • Fire / Burning: The poem Myra receives (about Prometheus and burning) symbolizes passionate, consuming love. She decides she will “burn” for Ace, accepting the risk of pain for the sake of love.
  • Hidden Relationship: The motif of secrecy recurs. Myra calculates that this love can be hers alone, kept from her parents until college. The chapter normalizes the idea of a private relationship as a form of rebellion.
  • Robotics as Metaphor: Samir’s competition—precise, team-driven, judged—mirrors Myra’s own high-stakes performance of perfection. His success contrasts her internal struggle.

Why This Chapter Matters

This is the emotional turning point of the novel. Myra stops hiding from her feelings and actively pursues what she wants. The chapter resolves the tension built over several chapters of silence and avoidance. It also solidifies the central romantic relationship by moving from fake dating to a genuine confession. Additionally, Samir’s apology repairs the rift between siblings and gives Myra the emotional push she needs. The chapter sets up the final countdown—now with 11 days until her parents return—and promises a real first date.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Question: Why does Myra decide she is willing to hide her relationship with Ace from her parents? Answer: She believes fighting her parents over Ace would be pointless because they would force her to stop seeing him. Instead, she chooses to keep the relationship private until college, viewing it as something that can be “mine and mine alone” without confronting her parents.

  2. Question: How does Samir’s apology affect Myra? Answer: His apology dissolves her resentment and stirs her to take action. It prompts her to text Ace and make her own confession, showing that his remorse gives her the emotional permission to be vulnerable.

  3. Question: What does Ace’s completion of The Merchant of Venice signify? Answer: It shows his commitment to Myra’s interests and his effort to connect with her world. He went beyond her tutoring to read a challenging play on his own, proving he values what matters to her.

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