<P> Politically, Changez is surprised by his own reaction to the September 11th attacks . "Yes, despicable as it may sound, my initial reaction was to be remarkably pleased", he tells the American . He observes the air of suspicion towards Pakistanis . Changez, due to his privileged position in society, is not among those detained or otherwise abused, but he notices a change in his treatment in public . To express solidarity with his countrymen after his trip to Chile, he starts to grow a beard . After the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, India and Pakistan mobilize leading to a standoff . Noticing the US response to this situation, he has an epiphany that his country is being used as a pawn . With no job, an expiring visa and no reason to stay in the United States, he moves back to Lahore . </P> <P> After returning to Lahore, he becomes a professor of finance at the local university . His experience and insight in world issues gains his admiration among students . As a result, he becomes a mentor to large groups of students on various issues . He and his students actively participate in demonstrations against policies that were detrimental to the sovereignty of Pakistan . Changez advocates nonviolence, but a relatively unknown student gets apprehended for an assassination attempt on an American representative, which brings the spotlight on Changez . In a widely televised interview, he strongly criticizes the militarism of U.S. foreign policy . This act makes people surrounding him think that someone might be sent to intimidate him or worse . </P> <P> As they sit in the cafe, Changez keeps noting that the American stranger is very apprehensive of their surroundings, that he is in possession of a sophisticated satellite phone on which he is repeatedly messaging, and that under his clothing there is a bulge which might be a gun . Changez walks the stranger toward his hotel . As they walk, the American, now highly suspicious that he is in immediate danger, reaches into his pocket, possibly for a gun . Changez says he trusts it is simply his holder of business cards . But the novel ends without revealing what was in his pocket, leaving the reader to wonder if the stranger was a CIA agent, possibly there to kill Changez, or if Changez, in collusion with the waiter from the cafe, had planned all along to do harm to the American . </P> <P> The Reluctant Fundamentalist is an example of a dramatic monologue . as well as being Auto - Digetic . </P>

Summary of novel the reluctant fundamentalist by mohsin hamid