Mumtaz appears, and Lakshmi announces her plans to return home. Mumtaz reminds her that she doesn’t know where she is, cannot speak the language, and has no knowledge or money to return home. Mumtaz says that she paid 10,000 rupees for Lakshmi and owns her until she can pay off her debt. She explains that Auntie Bimla works for Mumtaz and is not coming to rescue Lakshmi. Mumtaz makes Shahanna shave Lakshmi’s head, telling the same story as Uncle Husband: If she tries to escape now, others will know not to help her.

Lakshmi stays locked in the room for several days with no food, and Mumtaz comes to whip her often. Mumtaz plans to starve Lakshmi until she agrees to have sex with men, but Lakshmi still refuses. After five days, Shahanna secretly brings Lakshmi some tea, which she gratefully drinks while gazing out the window at some girls in school uniforms. Shahanna says that being out on the streets is awful, because many people have no food or shelter, both of which the girls have here. Out of fear that Mumtaz might kill Lakshmi or send her to a different brothel, Shahanna tries to convince Lakshmi to cooperate, but she still refuses to have sex with men.