Pasi

Muniyandi is the sole breadwinner but spends most of his earnings on liquor, leaving Valliamma and their seven children to cope with hunger. Despite his drinking, Valliamma and the family scrape by with a mix of grit and small help from others. Rakkamma, a street food vendor, eventually lends support to Valliamma's family.

Krishna, the educated eldest son, elopes with a girl and abandons the family. His departure deepens the precarious finances and emotional strain on Muniyandi and Valliamma. The home loses a crucial source of support as the family tries to hold together.

Kuppamma, Muniyandi's daughter, and her friend Chellamma begin collecting rags on the roads to contribute to the household income. Their effort provides a small but vital lifeline for the family. The sisters supplement Muniyandi's meager earnings with this street-side work.

Rangan, a lorry driver, befriends Kuppamma and offers help whenever she is in need. Their growing friendship gives the family some relief and develops into a dependent connection. The bond begins in the slum where both live and work.

The bond between Kuppamma and Rangan deepens beyond friendship and becomes a physical relationship. The secret weighs on both of them as they navigate their limited circumstances. They keep the affair hidden from others to avoid scandal.

When Valliamma learns about the relationship, she is overwhelmed by shame and despair and commits suicide. Her death shatters Muniyandi and the family, underscoring the stigma attached to their situation. The tragedy compounds the family’s economic hardship.

Kuppamma is shocked to learn that Rangan is already married. She resolves to protect his identity and avoids disclosing their relationship. This moment forces her to hide the truth while continuing with her pregnancy.

Kuppamma becomes pregnant and refuses to abort the child despite the advice of the roadside dwellers. She decides to carry the baby to term, accepting the consequences in a harsh environment. The pregnancy deepens the hidden bond with Rangan.

To shield Rangan, Kuppamma tells relatives that her lover died in an accident rather than reveal his true identity. She keeps the truth from extended family and tries to protect Rangan’s reputation. This secrecy sustains her pregnancy in a hostile setting.

As delivery nears, Kuppamma longs to meet Rangan, but he has relocated to another locality. The distance complicates their plans to acknowledge the child. The secrecy continues as the family awaits the outcome.

Rangan’s wife learns of the relationship and offers compassionate understanding, insisting that Rangan bring Kuppamma to their home. The act marks a turning point in how the two households respond to the situation. The wife’s stance introduces a potential family acceptance of the unborn child.

Rangan finally returns to the slum and finds Kuppamma in labor. She dies soon after delivering their child, marking a tragic end to the affair. The child survives, left in the care of Rangan and his wife.

Rangan and his wife decide to adopt the child as penance for Rangan's sins. The act completes the story’s arc, turning a tragedy into a family reconciliation. The child becomes a living reminder of the consequences of forbidden relationships.