A Fine Balance

As months pass, the four friends achieve a precarious prosperity. The sewing business is going well, and Maneck has decided to remain for three more years to finish a degree program.

This newfound stability prompts Ishvar to search for a wife for Om. Whenever the others object that it’s too soon, or that there’s no extra living space, Ishvar flies into a rage. He takes his responsibilities as Om’s guardian very seriously—his principal duty is to find Om a wife. Dina decides that the tailors and Om’s prospective bride can share the verandah. Ishvar writes to his Muslim friend, Ashraf, to make inquiries in their village. Ashraf replies that four families are interested in the match but that a decision must be made quickly.

Ishvar immediately plans a bride-viewing trip. Convinced that Om’s skinny appearance is caused by worms, Dina insists that Om needs to take a remedy for parasites before he leaves. Om unwillingly swallows the bad-tasting medicine and rids himself of his tapeworm.

Rajaram turns up unexpectedly at the apartment with his hair and beard shaved. He invites the tailors to tea at the vegetarian hotel where he confesses to being the marketplace hair thief. He also murdered the beggars, after they screamed when he stole their hair.