"Here.." "Kerala, Southern India, 1937." "Sir, we will have to change course again." "This is going to be.." "..the most crooked road in the crown." "Oh, definitely." "But it will be here aRer the monsoon." "A straight road will slide away." "I think we'll have to name this road aRer you, T.K." "Neelan Road." "How does that sound?" "Quite good." "Today, tea, tomorrow, cinnamon." "Pepper." " Cardamom." "That's for you, T.K." "A gir." "For me, sir?" "Thank you." "Thank you, sir." "Good aRernoon." "What's this?" " l have bad news." "Oh, dear." "We're out of honey." "Well, we'll have to remedy this at once." "We want eveyone's help to make a road." " Yes, we all will help you." "I love cows." ""l'm an old cowhand."" ""From the Rio Grande."" ""But my legs aren't bowed." - l don't like that song." ""And my cheeks aren't tanned." - l don't like it." ""l'm a cowboy who never saw a cow."" ""Never roped a steer because I don't know how." Come on."" ""Sure I'm not fixing to start up now."" ""Oh.."" "No." "Be careful." "A bit more inside." "To the leR.." "Inside." "I think they like the pale skin." "Yes." "When we are born, it's like this." "That's when the lines are formed." "This, this and this." "And all this." "For eveyone, it's different." "And then our lines cross each other." "That is our destiny." "See?" "And when we live.." "..it tries to get evemhing.." "..all that it wants in the world.." "..to hold it and keep it tight." "And when we leave the world.." "..it's all gone." "It's finally open." "Come, let's return." "Don't get scared." " Come." "Come on, let's run." "Let's go." "How did we do today, T.K.?" "Do we have enough men?" "There are so many men eager to work." "They're calling it "The Road To The Sky."" "Well, I hope you told them that we're going to be.." "..naming it aRer you." "Saiani." "Saiani, you shouldn't be walking home alone this late." "It'll be too dark." "T.K. will drive you back to the village." "If that's all right with you, T.K." "Why did Moores ask me to drive you home?" "How would I know?" "Saiani." "It's none of your concern." "I am asking you, where had you been all this time?" "Tell me, where had you been?" "I don't trust you." "You won't listen to me this way." "You can let me go now." "My English is not vey good." "Maybe you should practice more." "Oh, wow." "You bought it?" "It was a gir." "From sir?" " Yes." "Give that to me." "I visit eveyone in family.." "..see what they have and then decide where to have dinner." "Raiat says my sister is making mashed eggplants." "Come, have it." " No." " Neelan.." "I'll go home." " Come on, serve food." "Bye." " You too come inside." "Neela." "How are you?" "Good, Mother." "Good." "Here." "Not good." "Don't know what next." "T.K., come." "Join me for a drink." "Thank you." "To our new road." "To the prosperity it will bring.." "..and to us.." "Men of the future." "Men of the future." "Thank you for taking Saiani back." "It was no trouble." "How are things in the village?" "The village is the village." "Nothing ever changes." "All quiet, then?" "Yes, Sir.." "Quiet." "Good." "Lord." "The fery gets in at three." "I'll be out well before then." "Sir.." "Good luck." "Good morning, Charles." "Heny, Heny!" "How goes the battle?" " We're in good shape." "Workers are all assembled.." "And we're ready to start." " Good, good." "Now, you're absolutely certain you want to do this?" "Building a private road is an enormous risk, you know." "The people at my bank won't bat an eyelid.." "..about taking away your house and your plantation." "What are they saying about me at the bank?" "They're saying you've been too long in the jungle." "I know what I'm doing, Charles." "But it's the timing, Heny." "India's changing." "Rai or no Rai, the demand for spice will only continue to grow," "And you know that." "But how about the monsoon?" "Are you sure your road will hold?" "This road will hold." " Good." "What?" " Nothing." "Get away from here." " Okay." "Neelan." "Oh, headmaster.." "Headmaster?" "You need not be so formal." "I was dismissed from the school months ago." "Oh, I.." "I had not heard." "Sory sir." " l feel that I made them helpless." "You see, many of your schoolmates have joined in the cause." "An intelligent young man like you can make a difference." "You seem to be managing well without me, sir." "Your family has a lot of influence in your village." "The villages of India.." "without their help.." "..we have absolutely no hope of getting rid of the British." "And why should we be rid of them, sir?" "Where was all this before they came?" "With mutual cooperation comes mutual prosperity." "Something your sir taught you?" "I wonder if he believes it himself." "Shall we go in and ask him?" "Partnership requires equals, Mr. Neelan." "Remember that." "Why don't you come by tomorrow?" "We're having a ceremony of sorts to start the road." "You can see what we're doing." "A ceremony?" " Yes, stay for supper." "We can celebrate." "Sounds good to me, Heny." " l'll call you with the time." "See you tomorrow, then." " See you then." "Bye." "Peter!" " Papa!" "My word, you've grown." "Look, Mummy brought a bath." "A tub." "He's got accustomed to it." "How was the trip?" " Lovely." "Eveyone says hello." "Grandfather was simply wretched." "Peter." " Well, he was." "He said mummy and I should come and live in London.." "..until you make some decent money." "Did he?" "Well, I will do it then." " Indeed." "Still awaits my failure, does he?" "With bated breath." "Hell's bells, it's hot." "Hello, T.K.!" " Hello, Peter." "Hello, T.K." " Hello, madam." "Did you take care of this one for me?" " Yes, madam." "Then I am in your debt." "Ah, this one is for you." "More books for you to devour." " Thank you, madam." "T.K., has Saiani made her payasam (sweet)?" "Oh, he's been going on about it since Southampton." "Well, perhaps you should ask her when you get home, all right?" "Yes, we should go." "The road goes all the way up to here." "All that way?" "All by yourself?" "Well, with T.K# s help." "Payasam!" "Delicious." "Thank you, Saiani." " Thank you, Sajani." "You're welcome." "Daddy was obstinate that we go back to London.." "..for Peter's education." "They said that education there is good." "And the circumstances here are not good." "Out!" "Madam's things have been unpacked and put away." "I've also called for the workers to put in the tub." "Saiani." "They'll be here soon." " Sajani." "Will there be anything else, Sir?" "Stop it, please." "You've made your point." "What do you want me to do?" " l know this isn't easy." "I've risked evemhing." "My honour, my life." "I know." " And what have you risked?" "I love you." "You know that." "I want us to be together more than anything." "Don't cy." "Evemhing will be all right." "What is it?" " Oh, I couldn't sleep, that's all." "You know father renewed his offer." "I can pay for my own son's education." "I know." " And an_ay.." "I don't think he should be going to Sherborne." "It's a terrible school." "I only mention it because you might.." "When we finish building this road.." "..we'll be making more money than your father ever dreamed of." "I believe you." "Are you happy here?" "Now that we have a tub.." "I'm happy to be wherever you are." "Oh, dear." "I don't really understand what they're doing." "Any venture this big must begin with a blessing." "Why the coconuts?" "When you break a coconut, our mind is as pure as the white inside." "Oh!" "Bravo!" "Hury up." "Uncle, there." "A bit there." "Saiani, you have truly taken such.." "..good care of the house in my absence." "Thank you." " My pleasure, madam." "And your English is much improved." "T.K. and I, we only speak in English now." "That's how he wants it." " Good for you." "Mummy, look!" "A dragonfly!" "Oh, isn't it lovely?" "Saiani, aren't the dragonflies considered sacred?" "Yes, madam." " Why?" "Because when we die.." "..our souls, our spirits.." "..turn into dragonflies." "Really?" " Yes." "Evey person becomes a dragonfly." "Come on, Charles." "Time for a drink." "I wish you could stay here with us." "But I have to go home." "Who will cook payasam for my husband?" "Two fish went away." "Five fish went." "Six fish went." "Seven fish went." "Eight fish went." "Nine fish went." "Ten fish went." "Did you know they had to impose martial law in Bengal?" "We heard." " It's Punjab all over again." "These attacks on the British, mobs, random violence." "Yes, but Kerala.." "Rex!" "Quiet!" "Kerala is.." "Well, Kerala is Kerala." "Kerala is calmer, thank God." "Are you absolutely certain that you'll be able to finish.." "..before the monsoon?" "Well, I'll have to, won't I?" "You can bank on it." " l have." "Oh, I'll have to go check on him." "He's usually vey good." "Excuse me." "Rex?" "Rex?" "Saiani.." "Oh, my God." "What happened?" " He.. he found out." "Hold on to me." "Come on, come on." "T.K.!" "What happened?" "Get some water." "T.K., hury up." "What happened, sir?" "He did not think I would run." "Did he follow you?" "No." "I went to the river to hide." "There was no one there." "Are you certain?" " Yes." "This is the first place he will come to look." "He does not know it was you." "I protected your name." "Her husband is not the only one you have to wory about." "If the council learns of what she has done.." "Don't let them take me." "They will kill me." "In one village, there was a woman.." "They hanged her by her hair." "That won't happen. I promise you, I won't let it." "Sir.." "Sir, if they find us here, you won't be able to stop them." "They will come for her, they will come for you." "Even your family won't be safe." " Don't be ridiculous." "Don't wory." "We'll find somewhere to hide you." "And you will come with me, won't you?" "Just rest now." "Please!" "Do.. do you.. do you see him?" "No." "Charles, you wouldn't mind having a look, would you?" "T.K., I need your help." "You have to get her away from here." "I don't.." " T.K., please." "I can't, Sir. I can't be involved in all this." "If the council finds out I've helped, they will not spare.." "Can this wait till morning?" "Sir?" " Heny!" "T.K., you have to get her away from here." "Please, for all our sakes." "Where would she go, sir?" "She has nothing." "Here." "Give this to her." "And take whatever's in the cash box." "Don't wory." "Evemhing will be fine." "Heny!" "Charles." "There you are." "We.. we were beginning to think a tiger had got you." "One of the horses got out." "The lousy latch came right off the gate." "Oh." "Evemhing's fixed now?" " Yes, yes." "T.K. is seeing to it." "Let's go in." " Oh, what.." "Are you all right?" "I must've lust cut myself." "I'm fine." "Let's go in." "Peter's asleep." "Charles is snoring like a walrus.." "..and we are deliciously alone." "Oh, no." "Oh, no." "I'm sory. I'm sory." "Oh, leave it." "Saiani can get it in the morning." "No, no. I should.." "I should clean it up now." "It's a mess." "He hasn't yet come?" "Remember when we were small?" "We would play in these trees." "I would pretend to be Sita.." "..captured by Ravan." "And you and Manas would come to save me with your valour." "We had swords made of palm leaves." "You both would take turns to kill the evil Ravan." "And then we would run into the iungle.." "..to eat the mangoes and iackfruits.." "..to celebrate our victoy." "Where is he?" "He's not coming." "What are you saying?" "He wants you to go." "He would never send me away." "I know it." "This is your idea." "This is what he gave me to give to you." "Not to stay, to go." "You're lying." "Why are you doing this, T.K.?" "He.. he really loves me." "He loves his wife and child, Saiani." " l'm not going." "You will raise the river until all are drowned." "You must go!" " No." "You don't want to go?" " No." "I will take you to the village." "Let the council decide what to do with you." "No, please, T.K., no!" "This was your choice." "Choice?" "What choice have I ever had?" "Did I choose to mary that man?" "Do you know what will happen if you stay?" "Not lust to you, but to Moores as well." "But if I go.." "I will be alone." "And if you stay?" "I will be an outcast." "You already are." "We will take our rights back!" "Raiat, what's this all about?" " l don't know what happened, sir." "Just get us home." "Come on, get up!" "Long live Mother India!" "You can go now, sir." "Thank you so much, Officer." "T.K., you haven't seen Saiani, have you?" "She hasn't come in today." "Perhaps.." "Perhaps she is ill, madam?" "Well, yes, I suppose so." "Only you'd think.." "Come." "Never mind." "is she all right?" "Where did you take her?" "I put her on a boat.. to the north." "Thank you, T.K." "Manu?" "Sir, this is Manas." "Saiani's brother." "Vey good to meet you." "is Saiani all right?" "We've been awfully worried about her." "My.. my sister is missing." "Missing?" "No." "You have not seen her?" "Not since she leR the night before last." "Did she make it home all right?" " Yes." "And then what?" "She lust vanished?" "If you see her, tell her.." "tell her to come to me." "Yes." "Yes, of course." "Anything we can do." "Well, where would she go?" "I don't think we should inte_ere." "Temperatures in the east." "Storm clouds over the mountains.." "..but still no sign of rain.." "What are you doing here?" " l was vey careful." "No one saw me." "I told you, Moores doesn't want you here." "You are lying." " You're going to get us all killed." "You told all those things only to get rid of me." "Saiani!" "Thank God you're here." "I knew you didn't want me to leave.." "Saiani, you shouldn't be here." "It isn't safe for any of us." " But you.." "T.K. sent you away because I asked him to." "What?" " l had to, to save your life." "My life?" "Or your own?" " Sajani, please." "Please, please." "If you're found here, it puts all our lives at risk." "Yours, mine, T.K# s, my family's." "Now.. you have to leave." "You don't mean it." "No." "I'm not leaving." " Sajani." "Where are all your high words now?" "All those big words of love?" "We have no choice." "This is the only way." "Now, I'll make sure that you're cared for." "You'll have a new life." "You have to leave." "Do you love me?" "Saiani.." "Please.. tell me." "Do you love me?" "No." "Saiani, stop." "Please." "No!" "Sir.." "Sir, please go." "Sir.." "Please, make sure no one has heard the noise." "Please go, sir." "Please go." "Laura?" "Oh, you gave me a fright." "I'm sory." "Sory." "What is it?" " One of the horses has got out again," "So, T.K. and I will have to go and corral him." "Oh!" "I thought he fixed that latch." "No, no." "Don't stay up. I could be a while." "Well, be careful." "We should not do this." "She has to be cremated." "You want to start a fire?" "They'll be out looking for her." "You do not understand, sir." "Ifwe do not burn her, her soul cannot go to the next.." "T.K., I do understand." "It's lust not possible." "May your soul rest in peace." "God bless you." "God bless." "With all your force!" "With all your force!" "Come on." " Be careful." "Come." "T.K., what's.. what's happening?" "What's going on?" "They are going to help in the search for Sajani, sir." "T.K., please, do something." "Use your influence." "We must let them go, sir." "Saiani!" "Saiani!" "Finally, an inspector's coming to call tomorrow." "What?" "What inspector?" "When did he contact you?" "I contacted him aRer Sajani went missing." "Laura.." " Typical of them to take this long." "You shouldn't have done that." "I really don't think it's our business to get involved.." "..with something of this nature." "If you ask me, Heny, when a girl goes missing.." "..it's eveybody's business." "Papa?" "Will the inspector find Saiani?" "Let's hope so, yes." "So, she leR as usual Tuesday night.." "..and you haven't seen her aRer that?" "That's correct." "Yes." "1 We assumed her to be ill until her brother came.." "..and told us that she was missing." "So you said." "She walks to the village?" "Yes." "But I heard you asked your man T.K. to drive her back." "No." " Well.. well, yes, recently." "It was late." "is she attractive?" "Yes, vey." "Yes." "Yes." "Well, I do wish we could be of more help, Inspector." "You've been vey helpful, thank you." "I'll begin the search this aRernoon." "Where is this village?" "Perhaps T.K. could show you." " l'd prefer it if not." "Please, darling." "There's so little we can do." "Yes, of course." "T.K. will assist you." "Thank you, Mrs. Moores, Mr. Moores." " Thank you." "The police is here!" "The police!" "Then through the muslin." "Put the lid on.." "..and each of these you should fill three-quarters." "Brother, have you seen Saiani an_here?" "We don't know." "Go and ask them." "Go and ask them." "Good morning, T.K." "Charles." "A few of the men have come back." "It's not as bad as it looks." "This way." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Hury up!" "Hury up!" "Never, never let your gun.." " Never, never let your gun.." "..pointed be at anyone." " Pointed be at anyone." "T.K. we need more people there!" "Nearly done." "Terrific iob." "There." "Can I help you?" "This Raiat, Saiani's husband." "Peter, go back inside, please." "You.. you have her things here, yes?" "Her things?" "T.K., what is this all about?" "My.. my sister.." "Tell him what happened." "They have found Saiani's body." "Oh, no." "I'm sory. I'm vey, vey sory." " l'm so sory." "Tell them how she died." "She was shot." "Oh, dear God." "Tell them about her things." "Tell them we need evemhing now." "They have come to gather her things for her funeral." "Yes, of course." "We'll get them for you." "No, no.." " Sir.." "You must let them in." "It's our custom." "It's their duty to collect her things." "This way." "Come on, take it." "If there's anything I can do.." "I don't think you'll find anything of Sajani's there." "Daddy.." " Peter, please go back to your room." "Heny, Heny.." " Laura.." "That's enough!" "Now, you may take Saiani's things.." "..but you may not examine my propem." "Leave this house." "Get out of here!" " Brother." "Come." " It is easy for you to say, but my wife died." "This is not your village." "This is my home." "Now, you leave." "Come on, let's go." "Papa, where is Saiani?" "She's gone, Peter." "And she won't be coming back." "is she.. a dragonfly now?" "Yes." "Time for sleep, old man." "He'll be all right." " l can't believe this is happening." "Who would ever want to hurt Saiani?" "I don't know. I don't know." "Did you see the way they looked at us?" "Yes, well.. a terrible thing has happened." "What was that, with her husband?" "What was all that about?" "You don't think that T.K. and Saiani.." "No, no, no, of course not." "Look, it's in the hands of the authorities now.." "..and there's nothing we can do." "Mr. Moores?" "Come in, Heny." "What's he doing here, Charles?" "Do sit down." " No, I'm fine, thank you." "I'm afraid I've got some rather bad news." "The bank has called in your loan." "What?" "That's absurd." "We're practically finished." "I know, I know." "But the truth is.." "..that I can't advise the bank to continue with this project.." "..the situation in the village being as it is." "I see." "This is what it's about." "Go on." "Well.." "The girl worked for you, Heny." "She worked for you.." "..and she was killed with an English pistol." "What?" "And he thinks that I did it?" "Or you do." "You think that I did it, do you?" "No." "Frankly, I lust wish the whole mess would go away." "Which it can, if the culprit turns out to be a member of the village." "Then.. then it's purely a tribal matter, isn't it?" "The good inspector can step aside.." "..and I can recommit the bank's resources.." "..without fear of fanning a volatile situation." "Now, it's.. it's been brought to my attention.." "..that you gave your man a pistol." "An English pistol." "Was that the weapon that killed the girl, Heny?" "So.." "It's a tribal matter aRer all." "So?" "Of course, it is a tribal matter." "I have suspected it all along." "Go back to bed, Laura." "Back to bed." "How can I sleep with all this going on?" "I can't live like this, Heny." " Go back to bed." "This is all your doing, isn't it?" "What?" "What are you talking about?" "Evemhing's been so strange since I got back." "Did you kill her?" "She committed suicide." "And why would she do that, Heny?" "Shame on you!" "Peter, go back to bed, please." "Please?" " Do, darling." "Evemhing's all right." "What's going to happen to us?" "What are they going to do to us?" "We'll be safe." "They won't come aRer us." "How do you know that?" "They think it was T.K." "Oh, Heny." "Manas, come here." "Decide about the truth or false." "All ready, Peter?" "Yes, but I don't want to go." "I know." "Be a good man and look aRer mummy for me, will you?" "When are you coming home?" "Not sure yet." "But we'll see." "You'll send word when you reach England, won't you?" "Have a safe iourney." " Bye." "I'll write soon." " Bye." "Good day, sir." "Manas." "What can I do for you?" "I was wondering if you have any work for me, sir." "No, not right now. I'm sory." "Your business has grown, sir." "You need someone to help you." "Where's T.K.?" "T.K.?" "Neelan!" "Neelan!" "Come from there!" "Neelan!" "Hury up!" "If you not kill him, our people will." "You will be outcast." "T.K.." " No." "No, sir." "See, sir?" "The road will hold, sir." "The road will hold." "It will be here longer than you and I, sir." "It is no longer ours." "It never was." "You must go, sir." "You must go." "Long live Mother India!" "Long live Mother India!" "Long live Mother India!" "Long live Mother India!" "Mother, I bow to thee Gloy of moonlight dreams," "Over thy branches and lordly streams, Clad in thy blossoming trees," "Mother, giver of ease Laughing low and sweet!" "Mother I kiss thy feet, Speaker sweet and low!" "Mother, to thee I bow." "Speaker sweet and low!"