The Home and the World

After Amulya leaves, Bimala calls him back. When he returns, Sandip is with him. He begins making speeches and threats, but this time Bimala mocks him for his empty words and stagecraft. He is humiliated and, for the first time, cannot think of anything to say. Nikhil enters the room, and says that he is going to Calcutta the next day, and Sandip is going with him. If Sandip refuses, he will make it happen forcibly. Sandip turns to Bimala and tells her at great length how much he adores her, and names all of her qualities that inspired his devotion. She is conflicted. Her earlier disgust melts in the passion of his words. She wonders if she was wrong about him.

Rani comes to Bimala while she is making cakes for Amulya. Rani tells her about the treasury raid, and Bimala is relieved. It was their money that was stolen. Bimala goes to her dressing room. She has told Rani, falsely, that today is her birthday. In her dressing room, she receives a message from Amulya, who says he will visit that afternoon after attending to their business. Now Bimala is worried. She does not understand whom he is going to return the money to. The urge to admit to her involvement in the robbery comes over her.

A servant arrives to report that the inspector is bringing Panchu up to the palace. Nikhil goes to deal with the matter. Rani wants to know why they are going to Calcutta the next day, but Bimala does not answer. She worries about Amulya and prays for his safety. If he meets with danger, she prays that he will be her child in another life.

Bimala frets. The following day, the safe will be opened in her presence, and she knows that it will be empty. She sends a servant to check on Amulya, and is dismayed to learn that he has not come back yet. She takes out the pistol that he gave to her and places it against her forehead.

That evening, she serves the cakes to the household. Rani praises her and turns on a new invention—a gramophone—that arrived at the house that day. When the party ends, she goes to the sleeping Nikhil and takes the dust from his feet. Bimala is positive that she wants to die. She walks through the lawns, then throws herself onto the ground and sobs. Nikhil appears, and she takes his feet in her hands.