“Once I had a dream
I was falling from the sky
Coming down like running water…”
~ The War on Drugs.
July 1999.
Rupa’s father learns about her relationship with Michael and gives an ultimatum – leave her boyfriend or leave the apartment. Sharing the news with Michael, they agree to get married immediately rather than waiting another year. As they make their arrangements, Michael gets accepted into graduate school on fellowship.
Samina spends most of her free time painting. For hours. Locked away in her private studio, she reminisces upon the strange turn of events which led to her marriage and motherhood. When Ronit interrupts her because of an upcoming interview in their new home, she flies into a rage and throws empty paint tubes at him.
Michael and Rupa get married in an uptown Mosque. Afterwards, Michael visit’s Rupa’s father and informs him of their marriage.
During Samina’s interview, the reporter asks about the challenges of being a full-time housewife and mother rather than a blockbuster film star, given how exhausted Samina appears. Ronit seethes in the background, and after the reporter leaves, reminds Samina that her career isn’t over and fights with her to get plastic surgery to appear more youthful.
