Nikki

Nikki is one of the two central characters. She bartends at O'Reilly's pub and lives in the flat upstairs, much to the chagrin of her traditional mother, who would prefer that Nikki lived at home and worries that her daughter has no purpose or prospects after dropping out of law school. Nikki and her father had a heated argument about her choice to drop out, and she lives with the regret of never having reconciled with him before his sudden death.

Nikki is a feminist and has distanced herself from the traditions and values of her Punjabi family and community. She agrees to teach a writing class at the Sikh community centre to help the women feel more empowered, as she feels listless working at the pub. At the centre, Nikki learns from the widows about their lives and their desires, and the women are able to find...