Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows

Nikki arrives to her mother’s house with Indian sweets from Southall to find her mother and Auntie Geeta gossiping about the English class stories that are improving the sex lives of people in Southall. More women have shown up for the class, ready to contribute to the storytelling project. Kulwinder arrives and seizes the binder of transcribed stories. Nikki tries to retrieve the binder only to discover that Maya’s suicide note and Tarampal’s registration form were smudged in similar ways, as if both were written by someone who is left-handed.

Kulwinder confronts her husband, who was aware of the stories being written in the English class. The couple also discuss Maya’s suicide note, which they agree she did not write because of the Punjabi words and beliefs in it. They know that it is Jagdev, Maya’s Indian husband, who has been placing the threatening calls. They agree that Nikki needs to be careful. Kulwinder begins reading the stories in the binder and is drawn to them, especially “The Tailor.” The stories have the same effect on her as on others who read it, and while she and her husband are upstairs in the bedroom, Nikki knocks on her door. When they do not answer, Nikki contacts Sheena, who lives nearby.