‘But my children’s mother is not at home. She has gone to Ledo –’

‘That’s alright. When she returns, we will bring her as well. Now go and call everyone.’

It was not necessary to call them. The children had heard the entire conversation. With trembling hands, Yunlin was hastily putting some clothes in a bag. Yiu Yi was standing near her speechlessly, holding her doll. Her two older brothers were stunned into silence and the younger one clutched Yiu Yi and started crying.

‘We haven’t even eaten. There are children in the house. Please give us half an hour. My parents are old –’

‘No. There’s no time. Hurry up. Move. Move. Move outside. Take only your papers with you. Nothing else.’

The officer then turned to one of the constables.

‘Hey, call Rajendra.’

Rajendra entered diffidently, his eyes shining greedily.

‘Leave this house in his custody. Sign this paper. When you come back, you will get everything just as you left it. Till then, the house will remain locked.’

There was no scope for protest. Yiu Yi’s grandfather signed the paper with downcast eyes while her father went inside.

The magistrate looked around the room. He looked at every piece of the beautifully carved wooden furniture, fascinating decorative articles and the altar admiringly.

Yunlin came out with the baby, following her father. Yiu Yi, too, followed with the bag and her doll, while her younger brother held onto her. The rest of the brothers had also come. They all looked at the men in fear.

‘Leave the bag. No permission to take anything along, except your papers. Don’t take anything with you,’ one of the policemen said harshly.

‘There are clothes for my baby in the bag,’ Yunlin said.

‘It doesn’t matter what it contains. You can’t take it. That’s all.’ The policeman snatched the bag and the doll from Yiu Yi’s hand.

‘I will take this doll wth me. Sipahi dada gave it to me,’ Yiu Yi started weeping.

Yiu Yi’s grandma took Yiu Yi in her arms and said, ‘No one will take your doll away. You will get it when we come back. Don’t cry.’

‘I’ll tell Sipahi dada,’ Yiu Yi said, trying to control her tears.

‘Move. Move.’ The policemen shouted harshly, almost pushing them out of their home. Speechless and shaken to the core, they walked out.

A similar scene was playing out in every Chinese home.

Lee Chang had just got home and was having tea with his family. Hearing the sound of the baton, they opened the door. In an instant, everything changed. Anger, fear, uncertainty, surprise and untold sadness had replaced the environment of peace and happiness.

‘You have to leave this place.’

‘But why? And where will we go?’

‘We don’t know. Go. Get ready. If you have a passport or other relevant papers, take them with you. Don’t take anything else.’