The Widows of Malabar Hill

It is 1916. After their tryst on the beach, Perveen does not hear from Cyrus. She is desolate, but finally, the Sodawalla family sends a letter to her parents, asking for a meeting at a fancy hotel. Her parents are not pleased since they don’t know the family and Perveen has dropped out of law school. They scold her for going against their wishes and thinking that she is in love with Cyrus. Her mother says that she has always been a perfect daughter and that they are puzzled by this change in her.

After much discussion, they relent and meet the Sodawallas at the hotel. Perveen’s future in-laws are friendly but dress very ostentatiously. They are in favor of the match, but it takes a long time for the Mistrys to relent. Finally, they agree to a short engagement and a wedding in Calcutta.

Perveen and Cyrus have a small but lavish wedding. She is grieved that her grandfather did not come, who has been distant since the engagement. However, the Sodawallas are enjoying themselves and she is happy to be married to Cyrus.

On their wedding night, she is delighted to find that their dingy bedroom has been made over to be bright and elegant and that a flush toilet has been installed.