Ateng has felt how difficult it is to live with his stepmother. He is often being shouted at and even gets slapped. His father never stands by him. The village people are impressed to see the appearance of Iskak, Ateng’s old friend, who has just returned from Jakarta. This causes Ateng to yearn to leave for the capital city. And so Ateng joins Iskak. Once they arrive in Jakarta, their bags are stolen. Apparently Iskak has been talking big, as it is difficult for him to find a job. Ateng feels miserable in the capital city. He has been beaten up, starved and tricked. Ateng feels the capital city is crueler than his stepmother.
Ira Maya lives with her grandfather, Ateng, in a village. Their relationship is so close that they are inseparable. One day, Ira falls from her bike and is hurt. When she doesn’t recover, they find out that Ira has cancer. Her leg has to be amputated, and Ateng suffers for Ira’s misfortune.
Ismail leaves his wife, Sutrisni, in Bekasi, in order to look for a job in Jakarta. Although his brother, Iskandar, persuades him to do illegal work with him, Ismail refuses. Since Iskandar does not deliver the money Ismail is sending to his wife, Sutrisni goes to the city to find her husband. But Sutrisni does not find him and marries Wongso. Finally, Ismail finds her again to solve the complicated chain of events.
Sugesti feels jealous because Rochijat falls in love with her sister, Bardini, and he only considers her as a friend. To cope with her disappointment, Sugesti becomes a lead singer in a theater group led by Subroto. She stops singing when she marries the loan shark, Surachman, to pay for the debts of the theater group. Meanwhile, Bardini is at a loose end and works at Sugesti's house. She pretends not to know her and treats her badly. After dealing with various challenges, Bardini marries Rochijat. When she visits her father's grave, she runs into Sugesti, who is now a poor woman, after her husband is sent to jail.