Chandra doit se marier, même si elle ne le veut pas. Mais, traitée comme une esclave par sa nouvelle famille, elle se révolte.

An eleven year old girl, Chandra, gets married, and goes to visit her in laws in the desert, but when she arrives, she discovers that her new husband has died, and that she is expected to mourn for the husband she never actually knew, and be a slave to her in laws. They believe that she is cursed, and they beat, and abuse her, thinking she killed their son. Chandra is devastated when she discovers that her father knew what would happen to her and supported the old way. Chandra is determined to escape, and does. She flees to her family, thinking her mother would support her, and her father grabs her, intending to send her back, where she will most likely be killed. Her grandmother comes to her rescue, and reminds him that widow slavery is illegal. Her father announces, in public, that she is no longer his daughter, and that her name will never again be spoken in his house. Her mother is allowed no contact with her. Chandra can't remain with her nani (grandmother) however, because her in laws want her dead, and will try to arrange her death. She goes into hiding with one of her best friends, and she is guarded by Bhawar, the man who helped her not fall off the train she used to escape from her in laws. Eventually, her nani arranges for her to go to Glasglow to live with a friend who married an Englishman. It will cost ten thousand dollars to smuggle her in. Before she leaves, Chandra wants to buy a gift, and foolishly ventures into the market place, thinking that no one will know she is there. Her brother in law has been tracking her, spots her and tries to kidnap her. There is a huge scene, and many people are injured. Chandra narrowly escapes with the help of Bhawar and does manage, at the age of twelve, to get to safety in England. ( )