In which a wandering lama and his eager disciple, Kim, journey through the fertile fields near Umballa in search of a mystical River rumored to grant healing and freedom, encountering villagers, an old soldier, and the complexities of human nature along the way. Their travels lead them to the grand thoroughfare of the Grand Trunk Road, a bustling artery of life in Hindustan, where past memories and present hopes intertwine beneath the merciless sun.