Lala Kedarnath (Balraj Sahni), celebrating the opening of his new shop. The gritty Kedarnath is convinced that a man can make his own destiny, a sentiment not shared by the film's writer whose credo is 'waqt hi banata hai, waqt hi bigadta hai.' After presenting a rare paean to middle-age love in 'O meri zohra zabeen' where Kedarnath praises the blushing mother of his three sons (Achala Sachdev), the film shows an earthquake striking. The self-assured Kedarnath's happy family is suddenly scattered. The script's neatly worked out domino effect is well worth examining. The film culminates with an absorbing courtroom drama, and a grand reunion of Lala Kedarnath with his wife and three sons --- an emotional high point.