The Bandit Queens

Ramesh earns the respect of his fellow villagers by working hard despite his blindness and trying to make amends to his wife. Karem avoids Geeta after Ramesh’s return. Geeta’s only satisfaction in this turn of events is that Bandit apparently despises Ramesh. Slowly but surely, Geeta returns to their old patterns. Soon enough, Ramesh is sleeping in the house, and they are taking meals together. Geeta also ignores Saloni’s warnings.

Still, she does not fully trust her husband. Ramesh claims that he no longer drinks, so in order to test him, Geeta puts out the liquor that Karem brought over at Saloni’s request, placing it where his hands can find it. He resists the temptation and berates her for trying to trick him, and before she even knows what is happening, she finds herself apologizing to him.

Geeta does not attend the weekly loan meeting, and Saloni’s suspicions run even higher; she knows that Ramesh is somehow behind this new trend. Indeed, when Saloni visits Geeta, with Farah to accompany her, she finds Geeta once again wearing her nose ring, signifying her commitment to marriage. Geeta has also decided to quit the loan group, saying that Ramesh will finance her business.