Indian Summers

In March 1932, the British ruling class in India begins its annual sojourn to the Himalayan foothills to escape the summer heat. Among them is Ralph Whelan, private secretary to the British viceroy, and his sister, Alice, recently returned to India with her young son. While Cynthia Coffin readies the Royal Simla Club for the season, the passenger train is delayed by an obstruction on the tracks.

The fallout from the shooting reverberates around Simla, and a curfew is put in place to deal with the supposed terrorist threat. A journalist causes trouble when he attempts to uncover the truth behind the assassination attempt. Meanwhile, as tensions escalate between Ralph and his sister, Sarah becomes suspicious of Alice’s past.

It’s the Sipi Fair in Simla, the only time in the year that the Indian community is allowed onto the grounds of the British Club, but Ralph and Cynthia are more distracted by the upcoming inquest. Ralph conspires to get Aafrin onside by granting him a highly sought-after promotion, while Sooni lands in serious trouble when she’s arrested at a pro-independence rally.

Simla is abuzz with excitement over the viceroy’s visit, but Ralph is troubled when he discovers that crucial evidence in the shooting incident has gone missing. He makes plans to secretly search the properties of those who had access to the evidence. Eugene threatens to return with Madeleine to Chicago, and Sarah receives news from England that sheds light on Alice’s mysterious past.

Ralph’s attempts to take advantage of divisions among the Indians prove risky when he invites a member of the Untouchable community to a lavish party held at Viceregal Lodge in honor of his engagement. Cynthia is left reeling when Eugene makes a revelation about his family’s finances. Alice threatens to tell Ralph the truth about Aafrin’s role in the disappearance of the congress card.

The pressure continues to mount on Ralph as Jaya reveals the real reason for her visit to Simla. A mountaineer saves Alice, Madeleine, and Ronnie from a perilous situation and inveigles his way into Alice’s affections, but he hides an ulterior motive. Darius urges Roshana to accept Sita into the Dalal family fold.

When some children from the mission school find a woman’s body in the river, Ralph is thrown into turmoil, and Ian inadvertently casts suspicion on Ramu. Meanwhile, the Simla community stages a production of The Importance of Being Earnest for which the onstage performances pale in comparison with the backstage machinations.

The British community turn out in force for the murder trial. Racked with guilt for the role he has played in Ramu’s arrest, Ian prepares to act as his alibi - a decision that comes at a great cost, as he further ostracizes himself from his British peers. Cynthia is determined to see Ramu convicted, and Ralph is terrified that the truth of Adam’s paternity will come out.

With a powerful Indian government official set to come to Simla, the club must relax its policy against Indian visitors, and everyone is under stress. Sarah threatens to reveal that Alice’s husband is still alive, Sergeant Singh tries to blackmail Aafrin, and Ralph and Cynthia have a bitter fight that leaves their relationship in tatters.

The club votes to lift the color bar against Cynthia’s wishes, who feels increasingly alone, especially when she is not invited to Ralph’s wedding. As Alice and Aafrin prepare to go public with their relationship, he makes a choice about where his loyalties lie. And with Ramu’s fate in his hands, Ralph must decide whether to let an innocent man hang.