Celeste arrives at Digby’s quarters and, hearing a neighbor sing “Suprabhatam,” recalls Janaki, the ayah who raised her after her missionary parents died. Janaki once took Celeste to Tirupati, where offering her hair eased Celeste’s grief and led her to a life of seva, including volunteering at the Madras Orphanage. Claude never asked about this transformation.

As they drive, Muthu hands over still-warm samosas. Celeste vents about the British practice of sending children to England, the prejudice toward Anglo-Indian accents, and the cruelty of separation; Claude did this to their sons. She briefly touches Digby’s scar and recounts studying in England before learning her parents died of cholera. Digby admits he is also orphaned.

At Mahabalipuram, Celeste lets Digby explore the rathas, then they picnic facing the vast “Descent of the Ganges” relief. Digby sketches with a precise, anatomical eye, including a sensitive study of Celeste asleep. She praises his talent but recognizes in his drawings a longing to escape; he calls drawing his “escape,” then deflects when she probes further.

They discuss the temples’ frank sensuality, contrasting it with Christian shame; Digby jokes about the High Kirk and questions sin-focused doctrine. When Celeste gently asks how his parents died, Digby closes up, and they return to Madras in reflective silence.

At his quarters, emotion threatens to surface. Celeste squeezes Digby’s hand, thanks him, and, despite mutual attraction and shared loss, chooses restraint. She calls him a good man and ends the day with a controlled goodbye.