Bengal. Early 20th century. Two medical college friends, Mahendra and Behari, refuse to marry the beautiful and well-educated, but not wealthy, Binodini. She marries someone else, but a year later, after becoming a widow, she takes a job in Mahendra's house. Mahendra's young wife, the naive and simple-minded Ashalata, dotes on Benodini, while Mahendra himself unexpectedly falls in love with an old acquaintance.