"Is she an atheist or an agnostic? "
-That you will have to ask her. The name "Nafisa Ali" suggest she is a Muslim (or at least was born into a Muslim family).
"I guess bindis have become more of a fashion statement now. Used to signify marital status of women - black single, red married."
-Yup. Do the Indies in US put on "bindis"?
Yes, Indians here still do wear bindis. So do some Americans (my wife for example).