The Home and the World

Some of Nikhil’s tenants begin to kill cows for food. Although this is forbidden by the Hindu religion, the Muslims hold different views. Some tenants visit Nikhil to tell him he must forbid it, but he refuses to act as an oppressor in any way. There are reports that an effigy of Nikhil was burned after he refused to invest in a cotton mill because he knew that the business would fail. The pieces about him in the newspaper are accelerating. He feels danger everywhere, but cannot see a way to both stop it and to maintain his integrity.

One of Nikhil’s sub-treasuries is looted, and 6,000 rupees are taken. Rani begs Nikhil to leave for Calcutta until the unrest settles. Nikhil meets with the police inspector in his office. The inspector believes that Kasim, the guard, was colluding with the thieves, even though he was shot in the leg during the robbery. Nikhil visits Kasim, who tells a wild story about being attacked by hundreds of men. Nikhil is unsure of what to believe.

Chandranath encourages Nikhil to send his tenants away, at least, those with dissenting feelings towards him and his views. Nikhil says that he has given them all one more day. His master begs him to take Bimala to Calcutta. That evening, Nikhil finds Bimala lying on the floor of a room. He sits by her and she holds his feet before bursting into tears.

Bimala waits for Amulya to return from Calcutta. When she can wait no longer, she goes to Rani and takes the dust from her feet. Bimala tells her that it is her birthday and she wishes to make amends. Rani invites her to lunch later.

Bimala finds Sandip in the sitting room. She feels nothing but disgust for him. Sandip says that she can stop waiting for Amulya and produces her jewel box. She says she does not want it. Amulya rushes in and sees the box in Sandip’s lap. He says that Sandip took them; Amulya was on his way to return them to Bimala. He threatens Sandip, who then leaves them, saying it was only his intention to return it to her.

Bimala tells Amulya that he must go home to his mother. Amulya produces the 6,000 rupees. She says he must put them back where he got them, and is heartbroken when he admits that he got them by wrongdoing. He reveals that Sandip kept the money she gave him for the Cause. He says that Bimala has broken Sandip’s hold on him, and he believes that, with her help, anything is possible. Amulya promises to put the money back that night.