Following his parents' tragic demise, an orphaned boy is labeled "cursed" by superstitious villagers and forced to endure harsh treatment. As family conflicts and societal prejudices mount, the young child risks everything in a moment of grave danger to prove his worth and clear his name.

Ayesha is a widow with a secret past, living with her beloved son Saleem in a small town in Pakistan close to the Indian border. When the fires of Islamic nationalism invade their tranquil lives, Saleem and a few of the town's other young men are soon gripped by a religious fervour, and they attempt to bring radical Islamic law to their friends and neighbours. After a group of Sikh pilgrims arrive in town, tensions reach boiling point as Ayesha's haunted past comes rushing back.