aaaThefirststoryisaboutNanda,ayoungmanwholeavesCalcuttatoworkasapostmasterinanisolatedmalaria-infestedvillage.Thepostmasterislookedafterbyayoungorphangirl,Ratan.HisonlysolaceinthevillageisinteachingRatanhowtoreadandwrite.Thesecondstoryisaboutastudent,Amulya,whoreturnstohisvillageafterfinishinghisexams.Hiswidowedmotherisveryanxiousforhimtomarry,andhasalreadypickedoutagirl.Herejectshismother'schoiceand,beingforcedtochoosesomegirl,marriesalivelytomboywhoisnotreadytogiveupherfreedom.