Thestorybeginsin1996whenColonelSodhi,now70,visitshissisterandherfamily.However,evenafteroverhalfacentury,thenightmaresofhisintensebattleanditsaftermathoftenreturntohaunthim.OldSodhiandyoungAmarbegintobondandSodhiaccompaniesAmartoBurma(Myanmar)foranassignmentfromBBCtoshootadocumentaryonthestudentsagainsttheMilitaryJuntaforfreedomanddemocracy.InSingapore,SodhivisitstheplaceswhichbringbackthememoriesofhimasaLieutenantintheBritishIndianArmyLt.SodhimeetsabeautifulphotographerMayawhoinspireshimtochange.SodhifallsinlovewithMayawhojoinstheIndianNationalArmy.OldSodhilandsinBurmawithAmar,andiswelcomedbyanIndiangirlRani.TheyaccidentallygetcaughtinthestudentprotestandfiringbytheMilitaryJuntatosuppressthestudentagitation.WhenthesoldiersoftheMilitaryJuntagetroughandviolentwithAmarandRani,oldSodhiissuddenlytransformedintotheyoungLt.SodhiandkillsthetwoBurmesesoldierstodefendhisgroup.OldSodhiandhisgroup'sescapefromtheBurmesesoldiersrunsparalleltotheattackbytheBritishbombersonLt.Sodhi'sunit.In1944,theIndianNationalArmy,tired,hungry,cold,feverish,sickhadreachedImphaltodefenditagainstalltheoddspiledheavilyagainstthem.InaschoolsetupbyRani'sgrandmother,OldSodhifindsthephotographofMayaandrealizesthatMayahasbeendead.OldSodhi,finallyredeemshimselfbyhelpinghisyounggroupsafelycrossoverfromBurmaintoIndia,andkeephispromisetoMayathathewouldonedayreturntoBurmatofindherandbewithherwhenhisbodyisblownbytheBurmesesoldierstoashesandglory.
