Pilferer : A Simile
Amur Biashara behaves like a pilferer: “Then he opened the door a few inches and reached it like a pilferer.” Biashara does not want other people, such as Khalifa, to see the combination he uses to unlock the safe. He fears that they may steal his money from him. Even though the money belongs to him, he removes it from the safe as if he were a thief.
Champion : Metaphor
Before he succumbs to malaria, Khalifa's father leads the life of a champion. Malaria destroys the vigor he exhibited during his heydays: "Khalifa stood for a while looking at him, so thin and shrunken in death when he had been so vigorous and such a champion in life.” Khalifa’s father dies a few days after Khalifa arrives in Town. He succumbs to malaria, which is the disease that killed his wife. Malaria is so pervasive and very dangerous that it destroys the immunity of people who contract it.
Gift
Khalifa interprets Amur's proposal for him to marry Asha as a gift. Amur is in charge of Asha since all her parents are dead. Gurnah describes, “Khalifa knew that the merchant was making him a gift of her, and that the young woman was not going to have much say in the matter.” Amur does not consult Asha on whether she would like to be married to Khalifa. She is offered as a gift to Khalifa. Amur behaves as the owner of Asha; thus, makes the unanimous decision about her future husband.
