A Burning

Jivan’s mother visits, but it is impossible for Jivan to quell her tears or truly explain what prison is like. At first, Jivan’s mother tries to bring food, but when the guards simply keep the food, Jivan’s mother is further devastated. Jivan takes on the role of caretaker and tries to comfort her mother, falsely saying that prison is not so bad. Jivan’s mother tells her about Purnendu Sarkar, a journalist, and so Jivan devises a plan. She has her mother bring in some spice, which she puts into the meal for Uma madam, the warden. In exchange for the spiced meal, Jivan asks Uma madam to approve a visitor named Purnendu Sarkar, whom she claims is her brother. Although Uma madam knows Jivan is lying, she accepts the bribe.

Lovely and her fellow hijras go out to look for babies to bless in exchange for money. While many people believe that hijras have a direct line to god, and even though the mother of an infant comes out into the street and hands over her baby for blessing, the mother still washes her hands immediately. Lovely is accustomed to these microaggressions, and the hijras are paid well for their blessing regardless of the prejudices they face.