Twin sisters Meera and Laila move from India to the US as children. Five years later, Laila is abducted from their home on a night when Meera had sneaked out, leaving the sliding door unlocked—a guilt she carries for decades. Forced into servitude with an Indian couple, Laila lives with the memories of an ankanam, an inner courtyard in India where the twins used to play. Meera becomes a researcher and marries an abusive man, Richard, with whom she has a baby girl. A P.I., Mackie, in love with Meera, keeps searching for Laila even after Richard fires him. Following a physical attack, Meera divorces Richard and builds a life with Mackie. Laila falls for a young man, Mukunda, assigned to watch over her while the couple is away. She becomes pregnant with his child, Arjun, given up for adoption by the dying woman she served. After her death, Laila escapes, but refuses to accept Meera—until Meera's daily ritual of leaving childhood mementos at her door helps Laila rebuild their shared past.