The second episode of Bombay Begums begins by showing us the grief of Fatima and Arijay after Fatima’s miscarriage. Fatima offers namaz while Arijay cries in sorrow. Next, we see Fatima is back at work. Rani is in her office with Fatima and Lily while Ayesha arrives late. Lily will be the first beneficiary of the bank’s welfare scheme for underprivileged women and Ayesha will handle her case. The second episode of Bombay Begums shows 4 out of the 5 Bombay Begums in one room.

Lily tells her dancer friends about the big step she is going to take – opening a factory. She also won’t continue with sex work anymore. Lily wants her friends to join her in this venture. However, her friends laugh at her big plans.

At Shai’s school, she learns about the chemical reaction of love in the human body. She learns that males find women most attractive when they are ovulating. Looks like Shai has a crush on her classmate, Imran.

Covered in gold jewellery, Rani shoots for an advertisement for her bank for Karwa Chauth. Deepak comes in and gives her an update on the issue he is working on. While leaving, he taunts her about Fatima’s promotion to Deputy MD.

Shai’s monologue about love and love stories plays in the background.

Fatima and Arijay are distant from each other. In her new office, Fatima learns that due to the new HR policy, Arijay can’t be promoted since spouses can’t report to each other. She feels bad about this.

Ayesha shows Lily some ideas for pickle and saree factories but Lily rejects them saying that she wants a ‘real factory’ with heavy machines and not a ‘ladies style gharelu factory’. Ayesha says there is no time for that kind of a factory to be set up but Lily is adamant. Rani tells Ayesha to prepare a solid business plan for Lily in one week.

Arijay comes to Fatima’s office and tells her about the stalling of his promotion. However, he doesn’t care about it anymore since there will be no baby. He appreciates Fatima’s new office.

Ayesha reaches home to Anand and Gurpreet watching a movie. Gurpreet asks her about the progress on flat-hunting. Ayesha checks the social media account of Chitra, the singer she met the other day.

In the next scene, we see Rani and Naushad sharing an intimate moment but it is Zenobia’s name that comes out of his mouth. This disappoints Rani.

Meanwhile, Shai paints a red stain on her skirt to fake a menstrual bloodstain. She wears the skirt to school the next day to catch Imran’s attention.

Rani and Fatima sit for a meeting with Niyamat Mazumdar for the acquisition of a stake in her company Ozonoh. Rani negotiates the stake but suddenly gets a hot flush and leaves the room. Taking the meeting forward her own way, Fatima negotiates with Niyamat for a 40% take-it-or-leave-it stake. The meeting ends with the decision of the Mazumdars still pending. Fatima goes to the washroom and finds Rani in an unwell state. Rani also learns about Fatima’s miscarriage.

Fatima seeks advice from Deepak on how to crack the Mazumdars. He is kind to her and helps her.

Fatima sets up a meeting with Devyani Oniyal, the ex-Deputy MD of Royal Bank and asks for a job for Arijay at Devyani’s current bank, FCB Asia.

Rani orders the things required for Karwa Chauth the next day. Shai sends a friend request to Imran on social media. She asks what Karwa Chauth is about. Rani explains to her that it is a ritual in which wives fast for the long and healthy lives of their husbands, however, Rani likes to look at it as a gesture of love. Shai seems influenced by this.

Ayesha stays late at the bank and Ron asks her for dinner together. At his place, they eat, smoke and talk about life. They almost kiss but Ayesha leaves.

The next day, Ayesha reaches Lily’s residence to get to know her better. Lily welcomes her and introduces Ayesha to her son, Vaibhav. Ayesha learns that Lily wants to put Vaibhav in a new school so that he can make something out of his life. Lily tells her that she used to work as a dancer in dance bars but now it has been 14 years since the bars’ closing. She then came into sex work to sustain herself and her son.

In a meeting with Rani, Deepak says that Fatima is highly inexperienced for her position. So, all that kindness with Fatima was a drama! Rani senses his jealousy and says that if Fatima doesn’t deliver in 3 months, she would be replaced.

At the bank, Ayesha shows Rani the business plan she has made for Lily. It is a metal factory called Lily Metals. Rani likes it and approves it. Ayesha and Lily celebrate this feat at a bar. Chitra is the singer there. Chitra and Ayesha have something going on. Lily tells Ayesha about her true love, Haider who moved to Dubai.

The next morning, Arijay finds out that Fatima talked to Devyani Oniyal about his job and dashes out of the breakfast table in anger.

Weirdly, Shai fasts for Imran on Karwa Chauth.

At the bank, Rani and Fatima sit for a meeting with Niyamat and her father, Afzal. Rani is fasting for Karwa Chauth. Niyamat is ready for the bank to acquire a 40% stake in her company, however, for this to happen, Afzal Mazumdar wants his bad debts to be forgiven by the bank. Rani agrees to this condition but Fatima doesn’t. Looking at the disagreement between the two, Afzal leaves without closing the deal. Rani instructs Fatima to fix things with Niyamat and Afzal otherwise Fatima will be fired. Rani also tells her that Deepak doesn't want the deal to close. 

Lily dances with the other dancers at a politician’s Karwa Chauth celebration. The politician later asks for Lily’s rate but she declines by saying that she isn’t a sex worker anymore. He tries to force himself on her but Lily pushes him away.

Fatima and Arijay are at a Karwa Chauth celebration with their friends. Piya senses an awkwardness between Fatima and Arijay and talks to Fatima about it. Then, she sends Arijay to talk to Fatima. Fatima feels that Arijay blames her for the miscarriage. They talk it out and solve their differences. Arijay apologises to her and properly congratulates her for her big promotion. He also tells her not to interfere in his career. Arijay doesn’t seem to be the jealous husband in this episode as he did in the first episode of Bombay Begums.

Rani completes the Karwa Chauth pooja at home with Naushad. Imran accepts Shai’s friend request and she also breaks her fast with a cupcake.

At the politician’s event, the dancers show interest in Lily’s factory plan for the first time.

Ayesha reaches Chitra’s home, kisses her and leaves. She then rings Ron’s doorbell and kisses him. Confused, Chitra calls Ayesha but she ignores her calls. What is Ayesha trying to do?

Rani reaches a man’s place and they make out. Rani feels good with him unlike with Naushad.

Is Ayesha bisexual? With who is Rani cheating on Naushad and why? We’ll hopefully get the answers to these questions in the next episode of Bombay Begums. 

Episode Rating: 2.5/5