Thestorybeginsin1996whenColonelSodhi,now70,visitshissisterandherfamily.However,evenafteroverhalfacentury,thenightmaresofhisintensebattleanditsaftermathoftenreturntohaunthim.OldSodhiandyoungAmarbegintobondandSodhiaccompaniesAmartoBurma(Myanmar)foranassignmentfromBBCtoshootadocumentaryonthestudentsagainsttheMilitaryJuntaforfreedomanddemocracy.InSingapore,SodhivisitstheplaceswhichbringbackthememoriesofhimasaLieutenantintheBritishIndianArmyLt.SodhimeetsabeautifulphotographerMayawhoinspireshimtochange.SodhifallsinlovewithMayawhojoinstheIndianNationalArmy.OldSodhilandsinBurmawithAmar,andiswelcomedbyanIndiangirlRani.TheyaccidentallygetcaughtinthestudentprotestandfiringbytheMilitaryJuntatosuppressthestudentagitation.WhenthesoldiersoftheMilitaryJuntagetroughandviolentwithAmarandRani,oldSodhiissuddenlytransformedintotheyoungLt.SodhiandkillsthetwoBurmesesoldierstodefendhisgroup.OldSodhiandhisgroupsgrandmother,OldSodhifindsthephotographofMayaandrealizesthatMayahasbeendead.OldSodhi,finallyredeemshimselfbyhelpinghisyounggroupsafelycrossoverfromBurmaintoIndia,andkeephispromisetoMayathathewouldonedayreturntoBurmatofindherandbewithherwhenhisbodyisblownbytheBurmesesoldierstoashesandglory.
