The story revolves around several families and their experiences with marriage, relationships, and personal growth. The narrative begins with Nanda and Vinod, who are proud of their son Ravi studying abroad. However, their pride turns to worry when Ravi returns with his American girlfriend, Mehak. Despite initial reservations, Mehak wins over Nanda and Vinod by learning Indian customs and traditions.
The story then shifts to two sisters, Sapna and Maya, who live in a village. Sapna, who has a darker complexion, faces ridicule and low self-esteem due to societal beauty standards. However, she eventually wins the heart of the village chief's son, Dharamveer, after saving his life. Sapna's mother-in-law, who initially despises her, comes to appreciate her kindness and hard work.
Another family, the Kantas, are introduced, who have two sons, Jai and Vijay. Their wives, Mamta and Maya, have different personalities and approaches to household chores. Maya, who is lazy and self-centered, is eventually taught a lesson by two Brahmins who reward Mamta for her kindness and hard work.
The final part of the story focuses on Girdhar and Vikram, who become friends and promise to marry their children to each other. However, Girdhar's daughter, Maithili, grows up to be chubby and lazy. Vikram's wife, Vimala, comes up with a plan to make Maithili circumambulate the village temple for six months after marriage. This tradition helps Maithili lose weight and become a more confident and beautiful person.
Throughout the story, the importance of kindness, hard work, and self-improvement is emphasized. The narrative highlights the transformative power of positive change and the need to look beyond physical appearance to appreciate true beauty.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. Nanda and Vinod sent their son Ravi to study abroad.
2. Ravi returned home after six months with a girlfriend named Mehak.
3. Mehak wore Western clothes, but Nanda and Vinod wanted her to wear traditional Indian clothes.
4. Nanda and Vinod were worried about how their family members would react to Mehak.
5. Mehak was taught how to make traditional Indian food and wear a saree.
6. Mehak wore a saree to meet Nanda and Vinod's family members and impressed them with her behavior.
7. Sapna, a dark-skinned girl, was married to Dhan, the son of a village chief.
8. Sapna's mother-in-law was prejudiced against her due to her dark skin.
9. Sapna proved herself to be a good daughter-in-law by taking care of her mother-in-law when she was ill.
10. Sapna's mother-in-law eventually apologized for her behavior and praised Sapna's good qualities.
11. Maya, a fair-skinned girl, was lazy and did not help with household chores.
12. Mamta, a hardworking girl, was praised by the Brahmins for her good behavior.
13. Maya was punished by the Brahmins for her laziness by being given a mustache.
14. Girdhar and Vikram were friends who promised to marry their children to each other.
15. Maithili, Girdhar's daughter, was married to Vikram's son Gopal.
16. Maithili was lazy and overweight, but was encouraged by her mother-in-law to circumambulate the village temple.
17. Maithili lost weight and became more active after circumambulating the temple.
18. Maithili's transformation was attributed to the blessings of the goddess in the temple.