Sixteen-year-old Indu dreams of studying abroad and an independent career but is coping with her overbearing mother's constant efforts to find her a suitable boy. Her father is too burdened by problems outside the home to care about the fire that is consuming her. Enters Ashok Madan, a debonair young man who sweeps her off her feet. A heady courtship filled with romance and excitement follows. Hoping for a life filled with love and support, Indu ignores all warnings and decides to get married; however, things come to a head when Ashok, once an ardent wooer, transforms into a devoted son, leaving Indu to fend for herself in a household that values tradition over her dreams.

As Indu navigates the complexities of her new life, she struggles to balance her aspirations with the oppressive expectations of her in- laws. The early years after India's independence provide a tumultuous backdrop to her journey filled with societal upheavals and changing norms. Will Indu break free from the shackles of tradition and become the woman she always wanted to be, or will the weight of familial expectations crush her spirit? The story unfolds with dramatic twists and turns, revealing the resilience and strength of a young woman determined to carve her own path in a world that seeks to confine her.