‘What are our orders? It seems like they have surrounded us from all sides. We can hear them advancing and firing small arms.’

‘Don’t leave your positions. As long as you stay put, the enemy cannot advance.’

The subedar ordered, ‘Fix your bayonets and fight.’

The soldiers stopped retreating and confronted the advancing enemy, knowing fully well that death was inevitable.

The Chinese troops slowly surrounded the remaining Indian soldiers.

The ground became damp with blood and littered with bodies.

The wireless set again echoed with the subedar’s voice. ‘Our communication with the company commander has broken down. Before that, we heard the sound of mortar and machine gun fire from that place. Sounds like he became a martyr.’

The Indian troops were becoming weak. The signs of defeat were evident. All the bunkers were empty now. The ammunition store was empty, too. The commanders became silent.

No orders for withdrawal had come yet. The enemy was advancing. The wireless echoed repeatedly with the voice of the soldiers asking for orders.

‘What is the next order? I don’t have any ammunition with me. What should I do? Should I withdraw?’

‘There have been no orders for withdrawal yet.’

The wireless operator looked at Chowdhury and said, ‘You go, sahab. It’s not your job.’

Chowdhury did not answer. With an impassive face he looked outside the bunker.

‘What should I do, sir? We are only three. All the others are dead. Should we retreat, sir?’

‘I can’t say anything. I have not received any orders.’

The eyes of the wireless operator turned red with helpless anger, frustration and grief.

‘Say something, sir. The other two are dead. I am alone. I don’t have anything to fight with except the bayonet. Should I withdraw, sir?’

‘What should I tell you, subedar? Please forgive me.’

The operator looked at Chowdhury.

‘Go, Chowdhury sahab. Or you will not survive.’

‘Sir, the enemy is advancing. I have no arms. How can I fight, sir? Say something, sir – should I withdraw, sir? I –’

Suddenly, the wireless set went silent.

‘Leave, Chowdhury sahab. You are a civil officer. Why do you want to die?’

‘Come with me. What will you do here with this wireless set?’

‘No, sahab. I can’t move. You go, sahab. Please.’

Chowdhury did not leave. He sat with an LMG by the side of the operator.

By the time the withdrawal orders came, it was far too late. The troops were not organized enough to convey the withdrawal orders to all the soldiers. The soldiers had already been surrounded by the enemy.

Many of the confused and helpless soldiers had fled into the dense jungles. Those who did not receive the orders kept on fighting. They fought till they were bathed in blood and dropped dead.