The Henna Artist

It’s February 12, 1956, and it’s Radha’s first day at the maharani’s school. Lakshmi admires all the cars with drivers, and the impeccable uniforms, which Latika herself picked out. Since it is her first day, Lakshmi has promised to take Radha out to lunch. Now, Radha comes down the steps to meet her—though Sheela Sharma cuts her off as she rushes into her family’s sedan. 

Lakshmi, carrying only a handbag, tries to cope with Radha’s lack of enthusiasm as they walk to a nearby snack shop. Though Lakshmi does not normally approve of street food, she wants to make an exception for the special occasion. Two other girls with the same uniform walk past, but Radha feels too lost in her own world to try to say hello.

As they eat, Lakshmi talks about how proud their pitaji would have been. Radha only replies that, as a believer in free education for all castes, “he would have been happy with the government school.” Radha wolfs her food, even when Lakshmi chides her to eat “like a lady.” At her older sister’s request, Radha describes her teachers, though she is critical of them for being mean or having dandruff.

To support her sister’s love of writing, Lakshmi gifts her a beautiful pen: Wilson 1st Quality Fine. Radha is unenthused—instead of thanking Lakshmi, she merely says “if I lose it, you’ll be angry.” Lakshmi calls Radha choti behen, or “little sister,” and realizes it is the first time she has ever used those words. Radha thanks her sister and asks to go back to school, saying she is behind on her schoolwork because she had to grind the henna paste that morning. Lakshmi offers to let Radha quit the henna practice, but Radha ignores her.

Lost in thought, Lakshmi leaves the restaurant. Her builder, Naraya, stops her. He muses that he would love to send his daughter to such a fancy school and informs Lakshmi that she has missed the extension date on her payments. Because she is one day late, he has doubled her total—and if she doesn’t pay by today, he is legally allowed to take possession of her home. Despite the palace commission, Lakshmi is short: her money has gone to supplies, Radha, and Hari.

Naraya explains that he has figured out a way to marry his pregnant daughter off to another man, but he needs the dowry money—the marriage will only work if the man does not know his bride is with child. Desperate, Lakshmi realizes she will need to borrow money from Samir, even though she hates being in debt. On the rickshaw ride to his office, Lakshmi wonders if she is any better than Hari, after all.

Lakshmi arrives at Samir’s office and explains her predicament. Though he whistles at the amount of money, Samir is quick to give Lakshmi the entire sum, and she is grateful that he has made the whole thing feel easy. On her way out, Lakshmi crashes into Parvati and has no excuse for why she is in Samir’s building. Lakshmi feels just like Radha did when she was caught with Ravi, and sure enough, the next day, Parvati cancels her next appointment.