In the series finale of Shantaram, we pick up exactly where we left off: Prabhu and Lin in a getaway car. Lin goes the only place he can think of: Karla’s house. Abdullah arrives first, hoping to take Karla to Khader… but all he finds is Sebastian, barely breathing. Karla and Lisa have been taken by Walid’s men.
Lin arrives to find Abdullah standing over Sebastian. The pair try to get information out of Sebastian, but he’s too far gone. Meanwhile, Karla and Lisa are with Madame Zhou. She says Khader is done, and that Karla has destroyed him as well as herself. She intended to sell Karla and Lisa to the highest bidder, and locks them up in her rooms. Kavita’s story is front page news. There’s no retracting it or taking it back now.
Abdullah and Lin get Sebastian to a clinic, but Abdullah is summoned to help Khader as Walid is attacking their businesses all over Bombay. He orders Lin to stay with Sebastian, and orders the doctors to keep Sebastian alive.
Walid reads the news story aloud to his men, and orders his men to keep the pressure on Khader – blow by blow, until all of his businesses are hurting. Khader’s men show up to his house with tales of death and destruction. Abdullah is frustrated, and Khader knows Walid most likely has Karla by now. The question is, what is he going to do about it?
Kavita discovers Nishant put his own name on her story, and is claiming credit for it. She’s understandably angry, but this could save her life should Walid’s men come looking for the writer. She expresses her rage to her brother, and heads out to find Nishant.
Lin, Sebastian and Prabhu continue to hide out at the clinic. Sebastian wakes up and tells Lin that Zhou took Karla and Lisa, but hands Lin the keys to the train station locker with the money inside. It’s not wise for Lin to walk into a train station right now, but he does so anyway and retrieves the cash.
Khader is frustrated that the police won’t take any action against Walid or his men – as they fear Walid more than they fear him right now. The lone officer that comes to Khader’s place informs him Walid has more men than him, and is hanging out at his nightclub. Khader and Abdullah realize that while all of Walid’s men are out attacking Khader’s businesses, nobody is guarding Walid at his club. Abdullah wants to go after him, and Khader agrees.
Lisa and Karla attempt to find a hidden passage out of their room at Madame Zhou’s. Meanwhile, Kavita shows up to the office and confronts Nishant for stealing her story. Nishant tries to say he did it to get Kavita safe, but Kavita points out he would not have done it to a man. She swears she will never forgive him, and storms out of the office. Seconds later, one of Walid’s men arrives and shoots Nishant, killing him instantly.
The gang war continues to escalate. People are angry in the streets. Karla and Lisa escape their prison as the same police officer that was at Khader’s arrives to Walid’s club to inform him Khader and Abdullah are coming for him, ruining their element of surprise. Walid rightfully points out Officer Sanjay is a dishonorable bastard. Now Walid and Khader are both prepared to fight.
Prabhu pockets just a little bit of the money in the bag for himself and honestly? Good for him after all he’s been through. But while he’s counting money in his taxi, a police officer spots him and reports back to base. Lin shows up to Madame Zhou’s with a bag – and says he’ll give Madame Zhou the money if Karla and Lisa go free. An angry crowd is gathering outside Madame Zhou’s place, thanks to the newspaper article. Zhou questions if Khader sent Lin, but he says he never has and never will work for Khader.
The public burst through the gates and attempt to gain access to Zhou’s house. Maurizio and Lin fight, leading to Maurizio holding Lin at gunpoint. Karla and Lisa join the fight, which leads to Lisa grabbing the gun and finally snapping. She shoots Maurizio and some of Zhou’s men, before Karla takes it from her. She points the weapon at Zhou, but Lin tells her not to do it.
Prabhu realizes the police have come for him and his taxi and takes off as the public trash the outside of Zhou’s house. Lin, Karla and Lisa exit the house to find Prabhu gone and the sergeant plus the Bombay police looking for them.
Khader and his men are on their way to Walid, and Walid and his men are on their way to Khader. It leads to a confrontation in the streets halfway between each of their bases. I had a feeling Khader wouldn’t walk into a trap so willingly, and it turns out the police are on his side after all as they arrive and take shots at Walid. Khader sits in his car and watches as Walid is murdered, and the war is won once and for all.
Lin, Karla and Lisa manage to make their way to Didier’s place without being seen by police, but are worried when Prabhu does not arrive. Didier informs them Walid is dead, and Karla says Khader has won. Prabhu arrives late, holding the bag of money. Lin hands the bag to Lisa, so she can go and get Sebastian and they can hide.
Kavita feels guilt over Nishant’s death. She suspects Karla played her, and wonders what she really wanted out of the article. A gang war just so she could be with her boyfriend? It doesn’t seem to add up. Meanwhile, Lisa arrives to pick up Sebastian, who has vanished from the clinic.
Karla thanks Prabhu and Lin for their help as the men deliver them home. Lin hands Prabhu a roll of cash from the bag for himself and Parvati to enjoy. I’m really going to miss watching the adventures of Lin and Prabhu every week. Prabhu promises to pick Lin up at 5:30 to catch his train, but first Lin wants to say goodbye to Karla properly before he really does leave Bombay for good. Karla confesses she is in love with Lin after all, but I have my doubts about these two getting to be happy in the end.
Parvati paces, waiting for Prabhu to come home. She scolds him for his involvement in the night’s escapades, but it all worked out okay as Qasim survived. Prabhu shows Parvati the money, and promises he will not make her worry so much in future. These two are so sweet, I hope they have a wonderful life together.
Karla goes to see Khader and offers to retrieve Lin’s passport and papers while she is there. She needs Khader to understand that choosing Lin doesn’t mean she is betraying him, as she has decided to leave with Lin. She’s choosing happiness. Karla offers to take Lisa with them, but she refuses to leave without Sebastian. Karla makes Lin promise to meet her at the train station platform at 6:00.
Kavita goes to the police and gives them Karla’s address in an attempt to ease her guilt over Nishant’s death.
Khader meets with Karla. He says they won, she doesn’t have to leave. But Karla tells Khader she’s in love with Lin. All Khader cares about is that Walid is gone, and his position in Bombay is stronger than ever. Karla asks for Lin’s passport as the sergeant is after him, and Khader hands it over as a goodbye gift for the couple. Abdullah drives Karla to the station.
Lisa gives Lin half of the money in the bag, and just as Lin is about to leave – the sergeant is at Karla’s door. He forces his way into the apartment and Lin sneaks out. A chase through the property ensues and Lin ends up cornered. Lin offers up the money in exchange for letting him go, but it’s no use. As a last resort, Lin pulls a gun, jumps to the balcony on the next building and runs for it.
Karla waits on the train platform. Prabhu waits to pick up Lin, but finds the sergeant waiting for him instead. Lin makes it to the station in time on his own, but men grab him on the platform. Karla is left brokenhearted on the train, with Lin snatched away by the police just minutes from getting their fairytale ending.
What a fantastic series this has been… a shame it won't be continued for season 2.
