One night, Bhikni is called to the neighbouring village by a person named Bhishamdata. Ramavatar Singh dies a few hours later. Shanichari goes to bid farewell to Lakshman Singh, who has plans to leave the village. A messenger brings the news of Bhikni's death from the plague and tells Shanichari that Bhikni was her mother, Peewli. Shanichari then begins to weep profusely, and takes over as the new rudaali, crying at the Thakur's funeral.[2][5]
Sanichari is a rudaali, a professional mourner. After her husband dies, she joins a tribe of bonded labourers. Despite being buffeted about by a male-dominated society, Sanichari has never cried. A seasoned rudaali, Bhinkni, enters her life and suggests that Sanichari learns the tricks of the trade.