 British Deputy Commissioner, Peter Beckett, presides over a vast region in British-ruled India. He lives there with his wife, and a young daughter, Catherine. When he finds out that Catherine has become too friendly with one of the locals, Kisna Singh, he sends her back to Britain. Years later, Catherine has grown up into a lovely young woman, returns to India, very much lady-like, but has not forgotten her friend, Kisna. But things are no longer the same anymore. For the Indians have organized themselves to force their oppressors to leave India for good, and there is violence everywhere. In the midst of this, Catherine and Kisna rekindle their friendship, which eventually turns to love. But Kisna s dad has already arranged his marriage with a young woman named Lakshmi, and Kisna is duty-bound to respect his father s wishes. When Catherine s life gets in danger, she turns to Kisna for help, and on the day of his marriage with Lakshmi, both of them elope - followed by a angry mob, led by none other than Kisna s brother, Shankar, who are determined to kill both of them.