Gautama, a Ph.D. student at New York University, is arrested for attempting to hire a prostitute. Gautama had been in America for only a year and immigrated from Gwalior, a small city in Madhya Pradesh. He wanted to have sex for a long time but could not because of cultural norms.   Gautama comments that his favorite thing about hiring prostitutes is the negotiation. Prior to his arrest, Gautama had several instances where he would hire a prostitute and then run away before she arrived or tell her she did not look like the pictures to get a lower price.   Gautama is released from jail and serves community service. At the Bobst library, Ph.D. student Nirmala works at the service desk. One day Gautama asks her to lunch. They have lunch and Gautama reveals that his sister is living with epilepsy. In India, this caused her many troubles in finding a husband and placed a stigma upon her family. Gautama used to feel selfishness and carelessness when telling of his sister's epilepsy. However, when he told Nirmala, he felt a type of emotional release which he had not felt before.   They began having lunch together every day. Gautama stopped hiring prostitutes after his arrest. However, he only stopped looking at pornography as he got closer to Nirmala. He told Nirmala his old anxieties.   One night in February they go to an Indian restaurant in which you could pay any amount you want. Gautama intended not to pay anything. Nirmala is upset as she feels Gautama could not get away with doing this at a white-owned restaurant. Nirmala feels they should pay what you would pay in any other restaurant. Nonetheless, Gautama proceeds to order a lot of food, despite only having seventy dollars with him. Nirmala just orders lentils. Gautama pays seventy dollars, which is all the money he has with him.   They go on a walk after the meal and the tension is relieved through casual conversation. Nirmala became more complicated to Gautama as she revealed pieces of her past. They started going on walks, holding hands, and spending time in Nirmala’s dorm. They kiss for the first time.

After this, Gautama begins watching porn again. He now finds Nirmala beautiful.   In June, they decide to have sex. Guatama feels more whole and fulfilled. Guatama has a new emotional response to having sex with Nirmala. It is new because she wanted to have sex with him and was not coerced. He constantly thinks about Nirmala.

They enter a relationship. Gautama worries about their families in India finding out. Yet, they publicly display their relationship. Gautama fears that his involvement may be harmful to Nirmala and her family because Guatma's family carries a stigma in India.   Gautama tells his family about the relationship. They do not approve. He tries to convince his family to get to know Nirmala. His sister and extended family eventually reach out to learn about the couple. However, Guatama's mom is not supportive of the relationship. Guatama tries to talk with her, but she only expresses negative thoughts regarding the relationship.

Following this interaction with Guatama's mom, Gautama suddenly began to get annoyed by Nirmala. Minute details and quirks about her personality suddenly became bothersome to Guatama. Nirmala's need to be in charge became particularly noticeable and distressing to Guatama.

Gautama then began looking at other women and visiting the sites that advertised prostitution. Gautama hires a prostitute who allows him to touch her breasts.