After the play, Adela and Mrs. Moore discuss the Indian people with Ronny and a few others; all of the English people who have been in India long are squeamish and condescending about the natives--one of them even says that the best thing one can do for a native is to let him die. Ronny, Adela, and Mrs. Moore go down to look at the river, and when Ronny learns that Mrs. Moore has met an Indian in the mosque, he is suspicious and negative. When he learns that it was Dr. Aziz, he feels somewhat better, but his mother is taken aback when when he says that he must tell Callendar that Dr. Aziz told Mrs. Moore how much he dislikes him.
Mr. Turton, the Collector, and his wife send out invitations to a bridge party, and cause a flurry of gossip by sending invitations to a number of prominent Indian gentlemen. The Indians are greatly stirred up by the invitations, which take on another level of significance when the Nawab Bahadur, one of the most prominent Indians in the region, announces his intention to go to the party. But the party, held in the tennis courts at the club, is not a success. The Indians gravitate to one side of the court, the English to the other, and the two groups watch one another awkwardly. When Mr. Turton instigates mingling, the groups become even more awkward. Adela and Mrs. Moore offer to call on Mrs. Bhattacharya, who immediately agrees to cancel her trip to Calcutta in order to entertain them. They are shocked and embarrassed that she should do such a thing, but everyone laughs. Mr. Fielding, the president of the local government college, is pleased that Adela is so interested in meeting Indians, and agrees to show her, Mrs. Moore, and Dr. Aziz the college.
That night, after Adela goes to bed, Ronny and Mrs. Moore talk about her. Ronny is irritated that Adela is so concerned over the plight of the Indians, and angrily protests to his mother that he is not in India to be pleasant--he is there to establish justice and keep the peace.
