The first story is about Nanda, a young man who leaves Calcutta to work as a postmaster in an isolated malaria-infested village. The postmaster is looked after by a young orphan 女孩, Ratan. His only solace in the village is in teaching Ratan how to read and write. The second story is about a student, 嗄mulya, who returns to his village after finishing his exams. His widowed mother is very anxious for him to marry, and has already picked out a 女孩. He rejects his mother's choice and, being forced to choose some 女孩, marries a lively tomboy who is not ready to give up her freedom.