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