‘We can’t even go home. Our parents can’t come to see us. I feel frightened all the time, you know?’

Slowly the noise quietened down. The procession had entered Cheenapatti now. The lane was completely vacant. The Chinese were all behind closed doors. The only two people waiting outside were Thakur Prasad and Rajendra. Thakra’s face was glowing with perverted happiness, his cruel eyes glittering.

Ahlin was at home with all the others. For the last few days, her parents had not allowed her to go to school, in case she was humiliated. She had not met Ananta even once. As the procession was passing by, Ahlin’s brother whispered, ‘That is Ananta dada’s voice, shouting slogans.’

Ahlin who was sitting with her head on her knees, looked up, startled. Looking at her brother’s eyes for a brief moment, she stood up and went out.

‘Don’t go out, Ahlin!’ her mother cried out, but she did not listen, as if she was in a daze. She wanted to hear what Ananta had to say. Why had they come to Cheenapatti? What had the people of Cheenapatti done? He knew that his Ahlin, his very own Ahlin lived here.

‘Ungrateful Chinese! Go away, go away!’ Sparks of hatred flew from the procession.

Ahlin looked at the students. Numb. Motionless.

Who were Ananta and his group accusing of being ungrateful? Ahlin and the others? The people of Cheenapatti?

Most of the faces were familiar to Ahlin. Most of them were her friends, schoolmates, childhood companions.

A strange fear gripped her. Her family had come out and stood near Ahlin.

Ananta stopped for a moment.

This was a home he had visited so often. These people were like family. Ahlin and Ananta looked at each other. Ananta wanted to smile at her, but he held back.

Slowly he looked away from Ahlin, spat on the ground and shouted, ‘Chow Mao murdabad, murdabad! We won’t tolerate Chinese vandalism!’

Leading the procession, Ananta went past. Thakur Prasad was following him. He looked at Ahlin with a sly smile. Ahlin’s family quietly went inside.

Lying in bed, Ahlin wept inconsolably.

Her very own Ananta had spat in front of her to show his hatred. China had attacked India and Ananta made her his enemy.

Yiu Yi came to Ahlin and sat beside her.

‘Don’t cry, Ahlin ache,’ she said slowly.

‘He abused us. He asked us to leave, Yiu Yi. I will surely leave. I will surely go away from here. And later, even if he cries and looks for me, I won’t come back.’

Yiu Yi said sadly, ‘Don’t cry, ache. Ananta dada is difficult. I’ll scold him.’

‘Why has Ananta dada asked us to leave?’ Ahlin’s little brother asked.

‘I don’t know. I’ll have to find out,’ said Yiu Yi.

‘Don’t ask him. He will get angry.’