Nikhil considers Bimala’s perspective, thinking of how she thinks he takes “things too seriously.” He begins to wonder what the word “wife” entails—does it give him license to control Bimala’s individuality? Nikhil seems prepared to suffer the loss of his wife, recognizing that he and Bimala’s “natures” may not be as compatible as hers and Sandip’s.

Frequently, Nikhil stays up late, ashamed and unable to talk to Bimala. He tries to ground himself in something reliable, looking out at the stars in the night sky and speaking of “Eternal Love.” Nikhil runs into Bara Rani, who is horrified by the “pain” in his face and encourages him to go to bed. 

Bimala describes her fervor for the Cause, which Sandip’s influence has accelerated. She has enjoyed making “havoc” in her life through her newfound political interest. While she now “looks down upon” Sandip, she also responds to his “worship” of her nonetheless. Bimala likens her “intoxication” with Sandip and the Cause to her late brother-in-law’s destructive alcoholism, yet part of her desires to keep pursuing the danger.

Bara Rani again teases Bimala about the length of Sandip’s stay and laments Nikhil’s predicament. Bimala feels women like Bara Rani cannot possibly “understand the nature of [her] devotion.” Gradually, the tide turns and other pressing issues come to dominate the popular consciousness, making it more difficult to justify Sandip’s continued presence.

Bimala hides away for a few days but can find no satisfying task to distract herself. Eventually, Sandip sends her a letter; there is “urgent” business related to the movement. She meets him in the sitting room, where he encourages her to abandon her mundane domestic tasks and go to “the outside world.” Two servants interrupt their conversation.

Shortly after, Bimala understands that Bara Rani contrived the servants’ arrival to disrupt her time with Sandip. Bimala feels she has “spoil[ed] her life” and wishes to be free of her passion for the Cause. She thinks with nostalgia of her harmonious marriage, when she and Nikhil were so reciprocally devoted, but sees no way out of her current state.

Sandip articulates his philosophy, saying: “It is reserved for the great to be unjust.” He argues with Nikhil about the Cause once more, with Nikhil asserting that Swadeshi asks followers to worship the homeland, which could be seen as sacrilege. Sandip says India’s spirituality is an obstacle to great nationhood. 

Sandip feels his involvement in Bimala and Nikhil’s marriage drains Sandip of the power he needs to lead. Both Bimala and Sandip are “aware that some crisis [is] impending,” and he knows that it would be easy to claim Bimala as his own. However, he sees her being pulled in different directions: To him and the Cause but also to Nikhil and domesticity. Sandip believes Bimala needs to be freed of the chains of tradition for both her and India to achieve greatness.