Ali, the young Mr. Fakhri, is betrothed to his cousin Atieh but is besotted with Badri, the young daughter of a melon-seller at the bazaar. One day, while everyone is at the mosque for midday prayers, he follows her and she kisses him. Badri is defensive about her poverty and lack of education, but offers to meet Ali at the same time whenever he wishes to see her.

Ali’s family continues to plan his marriage and his future as a religious scholar. When he tries to tell his father about Badri, he is met with laughter. He marries Atieh and they have four children. She is a perfect wife and mother and it is a sign of her devotion to him that she expresses no resentment when he chooses to open the Stationery Shop rather than pursuing a more prestigious career as a scholar. Ali never forgets Badri, and he fantasizes about her when he is making love to his wife.

One day, Badri arrives in his shop elegantly dressed and accompanied by the young Bahman. She tells Ali that she is now an engineer’s wife and her husband has helped her to learn to read and write.