Part I, Chapters IV – VI: Summary
Some Muslims debate whether they should accept Turton's invitation to the Club's garden gathering. Nawab Bahadur persuades them to attend, and the narrator also mentions the impoverished Indians who were not invited and the missionaries, Mr. Graysford and Mr. Sorley, who serve this population but never attend the Club.
Chapter V describes the bridge party where Heaslop and Mrs. Turton display condescension towards the Indian women, making them feel uncomfortable. Mrs. Moore and Miss Quested attempt to engage in conversation with the Indian women and express interest in visiting Mrs. Battacharya and Mrs. Das. Mr. Turton is curt, but Mr. Fielding converses with everyone. Later, Miss Quested feels upset about the treatment of the Indians and receives an invitation to tea from Fielding.
Mrs. Moore and her son Ronny Heaslop discuss their differing views on how the English should behave in India. The potential marriage between Heaslop and Miss Quested is on Mrs. Moore's mind.
Chapter VI begins with a scene that takes place before the party, showing Aziz as a surgeon. Major Callendar reprimands him for not arriving at the bungalow on time the previous night. Aziz reflects on his late wife and feels sadness. He is excited by an invitation from Fielding for tea. Instead of attending the Club's garden party, Aziz plays polo with an unknown subaltern. Aziz accidentally strikes a Brahminy bull with his polo mallet in front of Dr. Panna who is Hindu.
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