Mala, a young school teacher, has idealistic dreams for her future. She hopes for a grand love affair with a large, extravagant wedding and a dashing bridegroom who will arrive on a horse. One day, Mala's friend confides in her about her relationship with the son of a wealthy man, with whom she has been intimate, but he is now marrying someone else. Mala accompanies her friend to the man's wedding and successfully manages to disrupt it and reveal the truth. The groom's friend, Raj, is enraged and insults Mala. In response, Mala slaps him. Looking for revenge, Raj seeks out Mala and, in the presence of her pupils, beats and rapes her. Mala is distraught and ashamed. She gets home to her shocked family with the help of her students. The police get involved and arrest Raj. The issue goes to court.
Raj's powerful father, Rai Bahadur, attempts to cover up the situation by bribing Mala's guardian Karthar Singh, who refuses to accept the money. Raj's sister and brother-in-law support Mala and defend her in the case. The judge finds Raj guilty. He is ordered to marry Mala in the next twenty-four hours, as her honor has been ruined and likely no other man would be willing to marry her, in her eyes. Raj tries to kill Mala and fails. The two get married without great pomp and ceremony. After the wedding, Mala moves into Raj's home, and his family begins to treat her badly. Rai Bahadur travels abroad and instructs his family to belittle and torture Mala with the ultimate goal of driving her from their house. Raj's elder sister-in-law Sharda is especially tough on Mala, since she had plotted for her own sister to marry Raj and gain access to his wealth.
