A turning point arrives when Priya meets Meera, a progressive neighbor who secretly teaches her to read. Each lesson is a rebellion, each word a weapon. Priya begins to see her marriage not as a fate, but a prison. Her bond with Meera deepens; the older woman becomes a maternal figure who reminds Priya of her inherent worth. Meanwhile, Arjun starts to question his role in her suffering, torn between duty and morality.