‘There is no way out. The orders are that no one should go out. I’ll try to inform one of the households from where everyone else will get the information. Tell me which house to inform.’

‘Just inform Lee Chang. When will we be allowed to leave?’

‘I don’t know that.’

One of the policemen left but the other stayed behind.

The children who were coming out from the classrooms were surprised and confused. They were not laughing and chatting like on other days. They were looking back at the school, at their teachers, and were trying to understand what was going on.

After they left, the teachers gathered in Chow Chi Yong’s room. At that time, Cha Mu was busy preparing the evening snacks and dinner simultaneously. She had a strange feeling that something bad was going to happen today.

Kaushalya was standing outside her house. She waved to the boys from the Chinese school and asked why school was over so early. Ko Fuk gestured to say that he didn’t know. Kaushalya was worried.

Today, two government officials had come to talk to her mother. She did not know what they had discussed. But she felt that something was going to happen. Kaushalya asked her mother but the older woman did not answer. Kaushalya, Siu and Alan used to study together but today they were not together.

‘Come inside,’ her mother said.

‘Can I go for just ten minutes to Alan’s house?’

‘Why?’

‘I’ll come back in a moment – I’m so worried. Why are there so many policemen?’

‘You don’t need to know. Come inside.’

‘Please, Maa.’

Her mother considered for a while and said, ‘Okay, go. But come back soon.’

As Kaushalya hurried to Alan’s house, two cars were coming into the lane. There were eight stern-faced men inside.

Eight executive magistrates!

Alan and Siu sat in Alan’s house. They looked worried. Seeing Kaushalya, their faces brightened.

‘Why didn’t you come?’ Kaushalya asked.

‘Our parents told us not to go out. Didn’t you see how many policemen there are on the road?’

‘Why is that?’

‘I don’t know. Everyone is so frightened!’

‘I too am scared, you know. The Chinese troops must have arrived. I saw a lot of people going to the station this morning. Everyone is fleeing. I wonder where we will go! I asked Maa. She didn’t answer. Where will you all go, Alan?’

After chatting with them for some time, Kaushalya stood up to leave.

‘Now I have to go, or Maa will scold me. If someone says something, come straight to our house. No one will dare to do anything to you if you stay with us.’

Kaushalya said her goodbyes and left.

In their lane too, the armed policemen were doing their rounds.