Sandip comes to their neighborhood to preach Swadeshi. At the temple pavilion, he speaks to a massive crowd. He is very handsome, but there is something about him that Bimala does not like. She believes Sandip exploits her husband’s charitable nature. As he speaks, he wins her over with charisma and passion. That night, Nikhil comes home and says that Sandip has won him over. He will accompany him to speak in another town the next day. Bimala asks if he could stay with them that night; she would like to attend to him herself.

She dresses herself attractively. At dinner, Sandip is just as charming as when he spoke at the pavilion. He says that he is 27, and his horoscope says he will die young. He asks for some time alone with Nikhil, but makes her promise to return when they are done speaking.

When she returns, Sandip provokes an argument with Nikhil regarding the cult of Vande Mataram, a poem. Two of its verses have become the national song of India. They argue about the nature of patriotism, and whether God can truly show favor to all countries, given the ways in which various countries wage war with each other.