Alovestoryplayedoutagainstabackdropofpoliticalandreligiousupheaval.AttheendoftheSecondWorldWar,38year-oldcareersoldierGianSinghresignshiscommissionwiththeBritishIndianArmyandreturnstohischildhoodvillage,neartheborderwithPakistan.Hauntedbythememoriesofwar,heseeksaquietlifeoffarming,solitudeandprayer.HispeaceisshatteredinAugust1947,however,whenIndiaisgrantedindependence.AnewborderisdrawnbetweenHindu-dominatedIndiaandMuslim-dominatedPakistan,andtheregionistornapartbymassacresfueledbyancientanimosities.Inthemidstofonesuchmassacre,GianfindsNaseem,a17-year-oldMuslimgirl,andtakesherunderhisprotection.Theygraduallyfindthemselvesdrawntoeachotherbut,astheirremarkablestoryplaysout,theobstaclestotheirhappinessproveallbutinsurmountable.