An unnamed narrator goes by the pet name "Joonam" around her house, but the reader never knows her real name. She lives in Persia in the 1600's and works very hard for a carpenter as his apprentice. She wonders about marriage because she knows that according to local tradition, her apprenticeship will end when her family arranges for her to finally marry the boy they have long chosen for her. As she contemplates this marriage, a comet streaks across the night sky, an omen that the gods have a twist of fate planned for her.
By the next day, her father is dead from a random stroke. This means that the money which would have been given to Joonam's future husband as a dowry is now not real, because the family has no income to speak of. The young lady does not make a livable wage working for the carpenter, and during an emotionally difficult time, she and her mother decide they need to leave to go somewhere with more opportunities as soon as the difficult winter has passed.
A carpet worksmith named Gostaham is the narrator's uncle in Isfahan. He reaches out to them to explain that he can help support them, but his wife is a greedy woman who hates them as soon as they move in. She does not want to share Gostaham's wealth. Regardless, this is good for Joonam, because her apprenticeship for the carpenter makes her an excellent employee for her uncle, and she gradually learns the craft of carpet making.
Joonam loses her temper when her skills are sub-par, and after a frustrating conflict with her uncle, she accepts a marriage proposal from a low-tier suitor named Fereydoon. She does not enjoy the marriage. The marriage is a short term contract, but Joonam works with the locals to spice up the marriage's intimacy, but after the contract is up, Fereydoon denies to renew it. The village doesn't bat an eyelash when he remarries, but Joonam is treated with contempt. After being homeless, Joonam's mother asks her to request more funds from Gostaham, and Joonam finds a new work opportunity, eventually becoming an excellent carpet maker and business owner.
