The third episode of Bombay Begums begins with an event organised by the Royal Bank to launch Shakti, the welfare scheme for underprivileged women. Rani declares Laxmi Gondhali (Lily) as the first beneficiary in the presence of Lily’s dancer friends, her son and media persons. The man with whom Rani has an extra-marital affair is also present. He is Mahesh Rao, the governor of the Public Resource Bank.

Ayesha requests HR to transfer her to the finance department under Deepak but HR declines.

Fatima and Arijay are at Deepak’s place. While Fatima consults Deepak on the Ozonoh deal, Arijay plays with Deepak’s son. Arijay looks quite happy around kids.

On their way back, Fatima suggests that they should go for surrogacy to become parents. Her eggs are infertile so they will have to use donor eggs. Arijay is thrilled.

Ayesha is still looking for a place to stay. Gurpreet bluntly tells her to get out of her house. Finally, Ayesha reaches Ron’s place who is kind enough to accommodate her. Her text conversations with Chitra, the singer, are on.

Shai is upset about her nowhere-to-be-seen puberty. Rani promises to take her bra-shopping after lunch.

Lily’s son finally gets admission to a new school after the principal looks at the plan of Lily’s factory. The mother and son rejoice.

Shai reaches the bank and talks to multiple people about her school project. Next, she stumbles into Ayesha’s office. Ayesha gets a call from Lily about a problem at the factory. The politician who she pushed away the other day has sent his goons at the factory. Lily says that she will have to deal with this problem herself.
Rani is stuck in an event and can’t take Shai shopping. Looking at an upset Shai, Ayesha offers to go with her. They look for bras online and Shai also tries Ayesha’s bra.

Fatima and Arijay are at the doctor’s clinic to learn about the process of surrogacy. Fatima gets a work call and leaves in between.

Ayesha has to be present for a meeting with the society chairman to finalise her flat. Shai accompanies her as they plan to go bra-shopping after it. Outside the society, Ayesha and Shai wait and talk while Ayesha smokes a cigarette. Surprisingly, Shai also takes a drag. Oh god, she’s just 13!

At the society meeting, the chairman asks Ayesha a bunch of questions and also raises concerns about her character as he saw her smoke outside. It seems that she didn’t get the flat. In the car, Shai inspires her to do whatever she wants to do without caring about the world.

Lily reaches Sathe’s office to convince him to let her operate her factory.

Fatima suggests that Royal Bank get FCB Asia to fund the Ozonoh takeover. However, Rani wants to keep Devyani out of this deal. Furious, Fatima leaves.

Arijay calls Fatima to help him give the sperm sample. Arijay makes sure that Fatima isn’t being rushed into the process of surrogacy. A little banter follows and they kiss.

There is a dinner get-together at Rani and Naushad’s place. Mahesh is also present. He hints that Devyani is also interested in investing in Ozonoh. Rani calls Fatima and tells her about it. She instructs Fatima to call Devyani and get her as a lender for the Ozonoh takeover.

Ayesha meets Chitra at a bar and Chitra sings for her. They hook up at Chitra’s place and Ayesha wakes up in Chitra’s bed the next morning. Ayesha borrows some clothes from Chitra for the day. Chitra asserts that they’re not exclusive. Ayesha hesitantly agrees and Chitra is relieved.

At the clinic, the doctor shows Fatima and Arijay a list of surrogates who are divided into factors like caste, class and religion. Fatima lashes out and says that they just want a healthy egg.

In Rani’s office, Shai tries on her new bra. It is padded and has an underwire. Rani says that Shai doesn’t need all that right now and a simple trainer bra would be fine for her.

Ron acts strange with Ayesha and tells her to let him know in the future if she is going to be out late for a ‘fun night’. Ayesha and Shai have lunch together while Rani eats alone in her office.

Arijay’s team hasn’t submitted the compliance report for Ozonoh yet and Fatima reprimands them for it. Shai comes into Fatima’s office to talk to her.

Royal Bank hosts a party for the new recruits. Devyani agrees to fund the Ozonoh takeover. Rani and Fatima take off early from the party and Fatima informs Rani that Devyani is on board. Deepak sits with the new recruits and tells them his stories from the US. Ayesha also listens to him earnestly. Arijay meets a girl, Sunaina, at the party.

At home, Fatima has a breakdown thinking about her infertility.

Rani meets Mahesh and they hook up while Naushad holds on to Zenobia’s clothes.

Shai’s monologue about women’s bodies plays in the background.

Mahesh and Rani leave from the hotel five minutes apart in different cars and a mysterious person records this.

At the factory, some very inappropriate slogans are written by the goons of Sathe. Lily calls Ayesha but her phone is switched off.

After talking for a long time at the party, Deepak and Ayesha prepare to take off. Ayesha’s phone is dead and she can’t call a cab. She requests Deepak to drop her home. In the car, Deepak touches Ayesha inappropriately and forces himself on her. Ayesha resists and Deepak backs off. Lily is in a cab nearby and she sees this. Ayesha is silent after the incident. Deepak drops her home (Ron’s place) and Ron sees Deepak. This is where the third episode of Bombay Begums ends.
The stories of all the Bombay Begums except Lily move at a very slow pace. So far, Lily is the only character that I feel for and only her story makes me want to watch the show.

Episode Rating: 2.5/5