 Surjit Singh earns his living driving a truck, most of the time while consuming alcohol. One night he stops at Courtesan Chamelibai s, drinks, goes to bed with her, and gets up behind schedule, so he rushes out, drives his truck and accidentally kills a farmer named Ram Din. He is arrested by the police, charged, and brought before the courts. The Judge finds him guilty and sentences him the maximum time under the Indian Penal Code for 100 years - with a difference, he is not to spend time in jail but must labor to look after the surviving family members of Ram Din, which include his widow, Malti; his sister, Kamla; two young sons; a crippled father Ganga Din and his blind wife. A horrified Surjit attempts to convince the Judge to change his ruling, but in vain and he is transported to his new penitentiary where he meets with hostile villagers who would rather kill him than let him toil on their sacred land. But with police protection, he is permitted to go to Ganga Din s house, where he faces even more hostility, not fed, and given a new name "Dushmun" (Enemy). That night Surjit plans to escape from the clutches of this destitute family, but he is apprehended and brought back to serve his time. Surjit must now come to terms with the fate that he has created for himself and this poor family - to work for their livelihood and live under their ever unforgiving eyes for the rest of his life.