Amma begins going to dinner parties and dances with two new friends, Chitra Aunty and Senu Uncle. Arjie visits the first American-style supermarket to open in the country, which is due to the Sri Lankan government changing from a socialist-style economy to a free-market or capitalist system. The family visits a beach resort, which Arjie learns is partially owned by his father Appa, who quit his job to get into the hotel business with Senu Uncle. Appa goes to Europe on a months-long trip. Arjie asks him to bring back copies of the sequels of the popular American book Little Women. Arjie read an old copy of Little Women that was owned by Amma’s older sister, Neliya Aunty, who came to live with the family after her mother’s death. Neliya Aunty is more old-fashioned than Amma and dresses in a more conservative manner.

A man with white skin known as Darryl Uncle arrives at the house one day. We learn that although he appears to be a foreigner, Darryl Uncle is Sri Lankan and is white: a Burgher. He is a journalist living in Australia now. Neliya Aunty greets him warmly.