Miss Rehana is a young, beautiful orphan employed as an ayah (nursemaid) in Lahore, Pakistan. She arrives alone and unveiled at the British Consulate to seek a travel permit to England. Her independent demeanor and striking eyes immediately capture the attention of the men in the adjacent shantytown.

Muhammad Ali is an older, gray-haired man who operates a small desk in the shantytown outside the British Consulate. He makes a living by offering expert advice and scamming the women who seek passage to England. When he sees Miss Rehana, he feels an unusual compulsion to approach her and offer his services for free.

The Lala is the bearded guard stationed at the British Consulate, outfitted in a turban and a khaki uniform with gold buttons. He acts as the immediate barrier between the applicants and the officials inside, typically exhibiting a gruff and combative attitude toward the visiting women.

Mustafa Dar is a man living in Bradford, England, who was arranged to marry Miss Rehana when she was nine years old and he was thirty. After moving to the United Kingdom, he promised to eventually send for her to join him.

The Sahibs are the British officials working inside the Consulate. They hold the authority to grant or deny travel permits to England. According to the men outside the gates, they view the applicants with intense suspicion and employ a rigorous, invasive questioning process.