sentences:  The story begins with Ram Avtar, the zamindar () of Barna (a village in the desert) realizing his imminent death, and the fact that none of his relatives would mourn him.He thus requests for the services of a famous rudaali named Bhikni (Rakhee), to mourn for him once he dies.Bhikni ends up staying with the widow Shanichari, who lives within the Thakur's compound.