Jaswant lives a middle-class lifestyle with his sister, Laddhu, and widowed mom in a village in Punjab, India. He is friendly with Thanedar Kishanchand and is aware that both Laddhu and Kishanchand are attracted to each other. He discusses this alliance with Kishanchand, and with his approval, arranges their engagement and also prepares himself to propose marriage to his sweetheart, Shammu, who lives with two brothers, Dharmu and Teju, and Dharmu's wife. The village they live in has an annual Kabootar (pigeon) competition. Jaswant wins, but his competitor, Tarhu, is angered, provokes him by shooting his Kabootar dead and has his friend, a corrupt Thanedar, Succha Singh, arrest Jaswant, take him to the Police Station and beat him up severely. When Succha finally lets go of Jaswant, Tarhu and his dad, Jhaildhara, are unhappy.