Behind the Beautiful Forevers

Fatima, the Husains’ neighbor, was born with only one leg. Because of her disfigurement, she rarely left her parents’ hut as a child and was married to the only person who would have her, a poor and much older husband. Now, when Fatima’s husband is away, she takes men into her hut—sometimes for money, sometimes to satisfy her sexual desires.

There is a constant strain between Fatima and the Husains, born from living in close quarters and having different lifestyles. Zehrunisa and Fatima frequently fight, but it is Zehrunisa who steps in to break up fights between Fatima and her husband. Recently, Zehrunisa’s daughter Kehkashan has left her husband of one year and returned home, since her husband was not interested in having sex with her. The men hanging around Fatima’s hut for sexual favors begin to bother Kehkashan.

Also, Zehrunisa disapproves of Fatima’s parenting—particularly the fact that Fatima’s two-year-old daughter drowned in a bucket in their hut while Fatima was home. Yet the Husains invite Fatima’s family over for Muslim holidays, believing that with so few Muslim families in Annawadi, they must all stick together.

Recently, Zehrunisa has realized that she may not want to move to the small plot of land in Vasai.