Tarampal has fled her home, and gossip about her abounds at the temple. Kulwinder sees the importance of the erotic stories, and rather than trying to suppress them, works toward copying and circulating them. Though the young man at the copy center has joined the Brothers and refuses to make copies for her, Kulwinder remains undeterred. The women’s world has opened beyond the borders of Southall. They can now travel outside the constraints of the community while still returning home.

Mindi explains that her approach to marriage is not to yield her identity to her family, but rather to involve her family in her major life decisions. She has chosen the man she wants to marry. Observing that Ranjit is still learning to accept the more modern aspects of Nikki’s family, Nikki asks why her sister does not choose someone who already shares these views. Mindi reminds her sister that being open-minded is more important. Nikki soon after receives a letter from Jason explaining his reasons for hiding the truth about his marital situation. He wanted to protect his family from threats, but he also admits the selfishness and cowardice of lying to Nikki, giving in to the emotional extorting of his former in-laws.