‘While passing his house we were talking loudly. Someone in his house is ill. He rebuked us for making a ruckus.’

‘Did he say anything else?’

‘Yes, he did. He said, “Go on, make a racket. You won’t be able to keep it up much longer in any case.” What did he mean, Pulok dada?’

‘Forget it, he was just grumbling. I will scold him.’

‘Don’t say anything to Thakra dada. We are all afraid of him. He goes around Cheenapatti with a huge stick. If we want to go out at night, Maa says, “Don’t go, Thakra will come.” Is he a ghost, Pulok dada?’ Yiu Yi giggled. So did the others.

The women entered the room with food. Putting down bowls in front of the children, Alan said, ‘Start with the soup.’

‘Why haven’t our parents come?’ Ho Yin from Class 1 asked Mei Lin.

Mei Lin looked at his tear-stained face, not knowing what to say.

‘I know. The police didn’t let them come,’ Ko Fuk said.

‘Why?’ Mei Ho asked.

‘I don’t know.’

‘Why won’t the police let them come, Mei Lin ache?’

Mei Lin had no answer. The children had their soup in silence.

At that time Thakur Prasad and Rajendra were roaming outside. Their faces and bodies were covered with a shawl. With a long stick in their hand, they were patrolling alongside the constables of the Makum outpost.

Seven

Seven

The Chinese Club in Makum had been transformed into a wedding venue. Large canopies had been set up outside the clubhouse. The place was full of people. It was Mei Lin’s wedding day.

In a pure white silk mekhela-chador, she looked like a typical Assamese bride. Everyone who saw her was captivated by her beauty. She was sitting in a beautifully decorated room surrounded by her friends. The marriage was to be performed according to Assamese rites to fulfil the wish of Pulok’s father. Everyone accepted that heartily. They all loved the gentle girl. They wanted her to have a good life. Having lost his wife early in his life, Mei Lin’s father had busied himself with work and left Mei Lin in the care of his brother-in-law’s family.

The relatives, who lived far away, could not attend the wedding. Those who were nearby and could return the same day had come. Mei Lin’s father had invited all his friends and acquaintances for the wedding of his only daughter. Even the family of Akong’s wife Phulmoni was invited. Yiu Yi’s sister Yunlin and her family, who lived near Ledo, had come too.