The Swallows of Kabul Chapter 12

Zunaira has given Atiq a new breath of life. He just sits there and watches her sleep. This even caused him to miss the prayers, although I find this creepy. Zunaira has taken off her burqua finally, and Atiq is hypnotized by her beauty. When he goes home late, even Musarrat can sense the difference. Atiq tells her all about the new prisoner, and when Atiq realizes that he forgot to feed her, Musarrat offers to make a meal for her. She says that anything that makes her husband happy will make her happy. Maybe Musarrat can sense that her days are numbered, and she is doing everything in her power to do everything she can for her husband while she still has time left. I think may be something will happen to her and maybe Atiq and Zunaira will run away together? I like how the author used the comparison of women to ghosts because this seems like it is exactly how women are viewed in this society. They are ignored until something is wanted from them. Their burquas almost make them look the part of a ghost also. The only part I don't get is when they "make mournful sounds when they come into the proximity of men." Does this mean that men do something to hurt the women, or is it just because they are being ignored, or is there something else I am missing?