‘Last night. In my opinion, Nehru should not have told the journalists that he had ordered the army to oust the Chinese. What I have learned from the news is that if China attacks India at the NEFA frontier, the Indian army will not be able to offer any resistance. We are in a weaker position from all sides. Nehru made the entire nation emotional. He might have considered the India-China conflict to be something like the Indian freedom struggle. He has little experience of war, whereas the Chinese leaders have direct experience of warfare.’

‘Don’t you think you might get into trouble for publishing this? How did you get all this information?’

‘There is every chance that I will be in trouble. But I could not resist writing it. All this has been published in various newspapers from time to time. I’ve just put the main points together. Right now India’s defences are weak but we have not stopped blustering and talking big.’

‘After Nehru’s statement, do you think the Chinese will stay quiet?’

‘No, they won’t. They are just waiting for an opportunity to attack. With this, Nehru has presented them with the opportunity.’

Mei Lin arrived with tea. The discussion came to an end. She looked even more beautiful in traditional Assamese attire. As Narayan looked at her in awe, she blushed, while Pulok smiled with pride.

‘Have your tea,’ Mei Lin said.

Meanwhile, A. C. Chow was listening to Radio Peking, sitting in his tastefully constructed house. One could see the worry lines on his forehead.

‘It is said in The Peking People’s Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, that a massive Indian attack is imminent in the eastern sector of the border. In the first page editorial of the The Peking People’s Daily comments have been published regarding Nehru’s latest statement. It is also said that being the representative of the Indian reactionary ruling circle, Nehru would not hesitate to use the lives of Indian soldiers to satiate his greed. They want a yard after taking an inch. Can China be so weak-kneed? No aggressor could overthrow the brave Chinese army from their own land. The editorial also commented that China still wanted to settle the dispute through negotiation. In the editorial the Chinese frontier guards were told to maintain vigilance constantly. Following Nehru’s orders, the Indian army may come to expel you. You have to be prepared for that. It is your sacred duty to safeguard your national soil and overthrow all the attacks of the encroachers.’