Rumors fly among the extended Sethi family and their servants concerning Ayah’s whereabouts. Cousin’s cook insists that Ayah is still in Lahore, but he will give no more information. Lenny and Hari/Himat Ali walk the city, searching for signs of her. Lenny believes that she sees Ayah, but each woman turns out only to resemble Ayah.

Godmother is a highly connected and respected woman in Lahore. Everyone comes to her with their problems, and she helps everyone who comes to her in need. She works through her contacts to locate Ayah, and Lenny soon realizes that Godmother has a lead to Ayah’s location. However, the adults talk only in secret, and they do not tell Lenny what is happening.

Lenny finally bursts out to Hamida that she knows Hamida came from the “jail” next door, as she is woken nearly every night by the crying and wailing of the imprisoned women. Hamida tells Lenny the truth: the house next door is a refuge for “fallen women” (226). However, Hamida does not tell Lenny how women become fallen.

As usual, Lenny goes to Godmother for the truth. Godmother tells her: Hamida was kidnapped by the Sikhs and her family will not take her back after another man has touched her.