Part 16 Summary

Kabir and Malati meet and Kabir confesses that he cannot stop thinking about Lata and begs her to intercede for him, but Lata has returned to Calcutta. Mrs. Rupa has her birthday which turns out to be a self-pity party. Meanwhile, things are hectic in the Chatterji household as usual. Dipankar attempts to find out what is the matter with Tapan, his 13-year-old brother who has become reclusive and almost weepy. It turns out that Tapan is being bullied by the hockey captain and his senior friends. The captain has a sexual desire for Tapan and, therefore, the harassment is worse than it ordinarily would have been. Dipankar becomes a good listener, allowing Tapan to vent his frustrations.

Dipankar has made an irrevocable decision, unless he changes his mind. He has decided to join a bank, which he announces to Amit, disturbing his...