‘What is it?’ Ahlin asked blushing.

‘You saw me. Why didn’t you come and talk to me?’

‘Don’t you see how everyone is staring?’

‘So what? Can’t one talk with a classmate?’ Ananta’s eyes sparkled in amusement.

‘Huh! As if you are meeting me as a classmate!’

‘Then what are we meeting as?’

‘You only keep joking! I am going. I feel shy!’

‘I don’t feel shy at all. Let us pray to the goddess and tell her about us.’

‘Do you really mean that?’

‘Yes, I do. Don’t you want to?’

‘Is it okay if I pray without folding my hands?’

‘Why? Are your hands hurting?’

‘Even though you know, you still ask me. People will see.’

‘Alright, you need not fold your hands but let us move ahead a bit.’

Ananta took a long time to pray, while Ahlin, fighting back her tears, kept looking at the face of the goddess.

‘Have you given up your studies on the pretext of the puja?’ Ananta asked.

‘No, I haven’t.’

‘Remember, you have to study at Cotton College with me. You must score good marks. Wherever we go, we will go together. If you refuse, I will take you with me anyway, got it?’

Ahlin smiled. Ananta placed a folded slip of paper in her hand.

Ananta was so fearless. And shameless too. With so many people around, he gave her a letter!

‘Where is my share?’ he asked with twinkling eyes.

Ahlin fled from the place, blushing profusely.

At that moment, in the sitting room of Manchung Ho, the leading contractor of Makum, a party was underway. Manchung Ho had invited a few high officials and big contractors on the occasion of the festival. He maintained a good rapport with powerful people for his own interests.

Today, Mok Min was absent as he could not leave his shop. The high officials also could not spend much time because they had to work longer hours during the festival. They had come because they couldn’t resist the food and the hospitality of the family.

Picking up the bottle of Scotch, the executive magistrate laughed and said, ‘Don’t be vague. Ask for Haig!’

‘The wine shop must have been emptied out today. Such sales!’

‘Mok Min’s shop is also full of customers. He can make his entire year’s profit during the puja. Besides, the Chinese of the entire district rely on his shop for Chinese provisions. This is another reason for his wealth.’

‘This time his business won’t be that good. Chinese customers will not be able to come because of the restrictions on their movement.’

The free-flowing whiskey soon ensured that the barrier between government and non-government collapsed. The Chinese businessmen were cautious. Most of them were aware of the situation at the border. They listened to both All India Radio and Radio Peking and they read all the daily newspapers.