The Widows of Malabar Hill

In 1921, Perveen accompanies Alice and her family to their home, a lavish, newly built mansion in an old and established neighborhood. Alice is unimpressed with the house and seems unhappy to be home. While they are touring her new room, they look out the window, and Lady Hobson-Jones tells her about the neighbors. Perveen realizes that one of the homes in the neighborhood is the Farid bungalow.

The two friends speak privately, and Alice explains that her family plans to keep her in Bombay because they are worried about her lesbian identity and her bohemian activities in London. She fears that they want to force her to marry a man. Perveen tries to comfort her.

After tea, Perveen makes her excuses and leaves for home. Sir David insists that she use his driver, and she asks if she can stop by to visit a client. At the Farid bungalow, the watchman is unfriendly but allows her in when she says that she is a solicitor and Mukri requests her. Mukri is hostile, especially because Perveen is a woman, and is reluctant to give her the papers and receipts she asks for. He repeatedly insists that the widows want to give their money to the wakf and that all outstanding household bills have been paid, following Muslim custom.