Chapter 16 Summary, Key Themes, and Study Notes

⚠️ 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

Chapter 16 opens with Ishu alone in her room, facing a problem she has never encountered before: she has been invited to a white Irish birthday party. Her usual event wear—salwar kameez for Bengali dawats, Eid parties, and Desi weddings—won't work here without making her stand out. Unsure of the dress code, she instinctively video calls Hani, who answers on the second ring, looking casual with her hair wrapped in a towel.

Hani helps Ishu brainstorm outfit options, quickly rejecting a flannel shirt with a joking warning about lesbian stereotypes. Ishu points out she isn't a lesbian, but Hani notes that the party guests—especially her own friends—tend to pigeonhole identities. Ishu silently reflects on how Hani's friends forced them together initially, and how those same friends now seem satisfied seeing them as a couple, assuming two brown girls must be alike despite differences in language and religion.

After several rejected options, they settle on a simple black dress with leggings. Hani teases that Ishu could show more skin since it's almost summer, but Ishu declines, and Hani doesn't push. Ishu admits she's nervous, and Hani tries to reassure her that people won't pay her much attention—which only makes Ishu feel worse, because she wants to be noticed. She explains that the party is part of her Head Girl campaign, just as Hani wants her friends to believe she isn't faking her bisexuality. Hani jokingly suggests leaving the leggings at home, and for a moment Ishu feels a fluttery sensation she doesn't like.

Ishu then asks if she can come to Hani's house to get ready and go to the party together, admitting she doesn't feel comfortable showing up alone with Aisling and Deirdre around. Hani agrees, though her reassurance that the girls will be nice sounds unconvincing.

A half hour later, Ishu arrives at Hani's bedroom wearing the black dress and leggings, while Hani wears a purple dress with lace sleeves. Hani sits Ishu down and begins brushing her short hair, insisting on styling it despite Ishu's protests that there's not much to do with short hair. This leads to a conversation about hair care. Ishu expresses frustration with the constant upkeep—brushing, oiling, special shampoos, and styling—and implies that Hani, with her waist-length thick hair, must understand. Hani initially downplays the differences, insisting that everyone's hair requires work, even Aisling's bleached blonde and Deirdre's fine shoulder-length hair. Ishu is frustrated by what she sees as Hani's naive attempt to pretend they're the same as their white friends.

Hani finishes styling Ishu's hair with clips, making it look sophisticated. She then tells Ishu that if her hair made her look ugly, she would say so, and that Ishu should believe her when she says she looks very pretty with short hair. Ishu is caught off guard—she can't remember anyone ever calling her pretty before—and can only stutter a thank you while avoiding Hani's eyes.

Key Events

Ishu video calls Hani for help choosing an outfit for a white Irish birthday party.
Hani rejects a flannel shirt as a lesbian stereotype, and they settle on a black dress and leggings.
Ishu reveals she wants to be noticed at the party to support her Head Girl campaign.
Ishu asks to get ready at Hani's house and go to the party together; Hani agrees.
At Hani's house, Hani styles Ishu's short hair with clips.
The two argue gently about hair care, with Hani initially insisting their hair isn't that different from their white friends'.
Hani compliments Ishu's appearance, leaving Ishu flustered and grateful.

Character Development

Ishu shows a rare moment of vulnerability in this chapter. She admits she's nervous about the party and, more importantly, that she wants to be seen—not just as a candidate for Head Girl, but as someone worthy of attention. Her frustration with her hair reveals a deeper discomfort with the constant labor of maintaining her appearance in a space where her cultural markers feel out of place. The compliment from Hani lands so powerfully because Ishu has never been called pretty before, suggesting a history of feeling invisible or undervalued. Her internal monologue also exposes her sharp awareness of how white peers reduce her and Hani to their brown skin, ignoring their individual differences.

Hani continues to grow as a supportive partner in the fake relationship. She helps Ishu without judgment, respects Ishu's choice to keep her legs covered, and doesn't pressure her when she declines to show skin. Her initial downplaying of hair differences shows her tendency to assimilate and avoid conflict, but her willingness to listen and eventually offer a sincere compliment indicates a shift toward more honest connection. The compliment itself—delivered with the logic that she has nothing to lose by telling the truth—suggests Hani values authenticity with Ishu, even if she still struggles to apply that same honesty to her friendships with Aisling and Deirdre.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Cultural otherness and belonging are central. Ishu's panic over what to wear to a white Irish party highlights how her usual cultural attire would mark her as an outsider. The black dress and leggings become a costume of assimilation, an attempt to blend in while still feeling like she doesn't belong.

Hair as a cultural identity marker is a powerful symbol. Ishu's short, low-maintenance hair is a practical choice, but it also represents her desire to reduce the burden of cultural upkeep. Hani's long, thick hair requires oil, mehndi, and special care—a visible sign of their shared Bengali heritage. Hani's initial refusal to acknowledge the difference between their hair and their white friends' hair reflects her broader tendency to minimize cultural gaps in order to fit in.

Identity performance runs throughout the chapter. Ishu is performing the role of a confident Head Girl candidate, while Hani is performing the role of a girl who is