Shalini (Divya Bharti) is the only sister of a rich businessman, Rajesh Saxena (Suresh Oberoi). Shalini falls in love with her classmate, Arun Kumar (Prithvi) after he performs a song that was authored by her under a pseudonym. However, she doesn't tell Arun about this because he doesn't like her; he thinks Shalini is a spoiled rich girl; she had behaved thusly a few times with him and some others. Without disclosing his own identity or purpose, Shalini's brother Rajesh goes to meet Arun, only to find out that he is an orphan, is from an underprivileged background, and is living in a hostel room, since he doesn't have a house of his own. Arun also rejects any help from Rajesh, as he would prefer to face the world on his own.
Rajesh tells Shalini that he will only arrange her marriage to Arun if Arun reaches a status in society comparable to theirs. Shalini knows that Arun is a good singer because he often sings at college functions and decides to confess her love when Arun becomes what he deserves as she neither wants to make her love a bondage for Arun nor wants to go against her brother. She tells her friend, Madhu, to use her money to start up a music/stage production company and indirectly encourages Arun to become a singer. She starts writing songs for Arun Kumar (without publishing those elsewhere) but still prefers to remain anonymous. Arun gets these songs from an editor, Mr. Verma, who tells him that these songs are written by a girl called Seema (Shalini/Divya Bharti - who wishes to stay anonymous). Through her songs, Arun becomes popular and wealthy in a short while and wants to express his gratitude by meeting her. However, Mr. Verma maintains Seema's anonymity, allowing Arun to correspond via letters.
Finally, Shalini's brother is ready to get her married to (a very successful) Arun Kumar (Prithvi), and also announces his intention to Shalini. But they soon find out that Arun has married the principal's daughter, Meena. The marriage was not the culmination of any romance, but rather the apt thing to do when the principal, who was a mentor to Arun, suddenly died, leaving his lone daughter behind without any support.
Shalini then decides to remain unmarried for the rest of her life. However, due to her love remaining unrequited and the heartbreak caused by it, her health gradually deteriorates and she is hospitalized due to patches detected in her lungs. Mr. Verma tells Arun that Seema (shalini?DIvya) is in the hospital and about to die. He goes to the hospital, only to find out that Seema is none other than Shalini. He tells his wife about Shalini and they go to the hospital together, where Arun symbolically accepts Shalini as his wife Meena (on being encouraged by Meena), but Shalini soon passes away. A daughter is born to the pregnant Meena, who is named Seema to honor the memory of Shalini.
