Chapter 16
Summary
- Jasmine is on leave and Nisha is relieved to be working without her, feeling a mix of anger and guilt towards Jasmine.
- Nisha works through her shifts with silent fury and deliberately appears unapproachable to avoid dealing with hotel guests.
- Struggling with her divorce, Nisha finds that most top divorce lawyers are already hired by her husband, Carl, and her bank's relationship manager is unresponsive.
- Unable to secure a credit card due to lack of a permanent UK address and unable to receive mail at her New York home controlled by Carl, Nisha faces financial difficulties.
- She calls her son, Ray, daily to maintain a sense of normalcy but dreads having to tell him about the family's situation.
- In the hotel kitchen, the chef Aleks prepares food for her without conversation, offering silent support.
- Attempting to assert boundaries, Nisha tells Aleks she won't sleep with him, but he seems unfazed.
- Unable to stay at the hotel after the current night due to a conference booking and receiving no help from old acquaintances, Nisha feels unwelcome in the city and deeply unhappy.
- Jasmine finds Nisha after her shift and insists on taking her to her apartment, deeply inquiring into Nisha's recent life and expressing shock and disbelief at Nisha's fall from affluence to her current state.
- Upon arrival at Jasmine's small, cluttered apartment, Nisha is struck by the stark contrast to her own past of wealth and luxury.
- Jasmine offers a space for Nisha to stay, suggesting she help with cooking and caring for Jasmine's daughter, Grace, in exchange.
- Nisha is embarrassed but grateful for the offer and vows to herself to make a plan and have her husband pay for "all of it."
- Despite cramped quarters and an initially reluctant Grace, Nisha is set to sleep on the top bunk in Grace's room.
- Jasmine reveals she brought Nisha's personal underwear from the hotel, causing Nisha to break down emotionally.