Ayesha is a seemingly well-adjusted middle-aged woman whose life centres around her son Saleem -a gentle dreamy 18-year-old in love with Zubeida. They live in the village of Charkhi in Punjab Pakistan. Ayesha`s husband is dead and she manages a living from his pension and by giving Qur`an lessons to young girls. The story begins in 1979 in a Pakistan under President General Zia-ul-Haq`s martial law. Zia-ul-Haq manipulated the interpretation of Islam and misguided a whole generation of uneducated young people. These radicalized young people were needed at that time to fight the Soviets who had occupied neighbouring Afghanistan. Saleem becomes intensely involved with a group of Islamic fundamentalists and leaves Zubeida. Ayesha is saddened to see her son change radically. Events escalate when Sikh pilgrims from India arrive in the village. Later a pilgrim looks for his sister Veero who was left behind in 1947 during the Partition of India. This awakens heart-rending memories.