Fran and Kuljit sit reading the papers. Fran’s surprised that Jodie doesn’t deck Kuljit when he shouts to her to make him a coffee. She doesn’t approve of Kuljit’s sexist attitude. Fran tells Kuljit how active Jodie used to be, getting everyone fired up about global injustice. She even once chained herself to the gates of a school that was threatened with closure. The two of them spent ages on the Greenham Common protest site with their mums when they were just kids. This a side of Jodie that Kuljit knows very little about but he doesn’t let on to Fran.
Mushtaq arrives early at Dr Masud’s for the shairi evening and helps him prepare for the other guests. Dr Masud seems nervous but Mushtaq reassures him that everything will be fine. The other guests start to arrive and as Dr Masud hands around chai and samosas someone begins to recite a shair.
Fran calls at Saffron Rays for a takeaway not knowing it is Jodie’s dad’s restaurant. Mani is just on his way out so he calls one of the waiters over. He chats to Fran briefly, welcoming her to the area. By the time he arrives at Dr Masud’s the evening is in full swing. Everyone congratulates Mushtaq on his delivery of a ghazal. Then its Dr Masud’s turn, Mani declares to the other guests that they are in for a treat!
