Cold Ashes Can Cause Forest Fires

Uma (13) lives alone with her father, Milind who manages a colonial hotel in a secluded town in the Himalayas. Her mother left them a few months ago without any promise of a return. Uma blames Milind for her mother’s departure and is resentful towards him. During the Christmas holidays, off-season at the hotel, old family friends visit to give them company. Uma at first is rejoiced to be reunited with her dear friend, Kali. What initially holds a promise of respite, quickly throws her life into disarray as she suspects her father of having an affair with Kali’s mother. Assuming this to nullify any prospect of her mother’s return and feeling betrayed by her father, she decides to punish both adults. The consequences are far graver than she had anticipated – Milind and Kali’s mother both get seriously injured. Uma is forced to take care of her father while contending with the possible discovery of her culpability. Milind too begins to suspect that his caregiver is also his perpetrator.