‘When did you arrive? Look, they’ve arrested Liang, Yao Sen, Tung Chin and others. They have arrested Akong, too.’

Robin said nothing. He just stared at Pulok’s face. Pulok looked at the officer.

‘Sir, he is a friend of ours. He is Robin Dohotia, sir. Do you recognize him? He is the centre-forward of Seven Star Club. Ask him what kind of people Liang and the others are –’

Pulok turned to Robin again. But Robin was leaving the room, stone-faced; he had come to assist in the shifting of the detainees.

‘Go outside now. There is nothing we can do. The intelligence people are around. Not only will you get into trouble, I will also lose my job,’ he said to Pulok quietly.

Wiping his tears, Pulok left the room.

The teachers of the Chinese school were still sitting inside. Armed police guarded the entrance of the school and patrolled the roads. The Chinese families were moving towards the opposite lane, group after group. The laments of the captives could be heard throughout the area. Slowly everything became vacant and quiet. Only a few curious onlookers gathered at the entrance of the gully.

Just then, a group of armed police with a civil officer entered the school. Startled, all the teachers stood up. The officer spoke, ‘All of you along with the hostel children have to leave with us right away. Get ready, headmaster.’

The faces of the teachers turned pale.

‘Why are you arresting us?’ Chow Chi Yong asked gently.

‘We are not arresting you. But if you resist, we have orders to do so. Where are the hostellers?’

‘They are in the hostel at the back.’

‘Let us go there.’

Without waiting to be led, the officer and the policemen walked towards the hostel.

In Pulok’s house, the neighbours were sitting before the radio. The news had just ended. Pulok’s father had not returned yet. Mei Lin was helping her mother-in-law in the kitchen. She was waiting for Pulok to take her to Cheenapatti.

She looked worried. The hurtful comments of her father-in-law and the news that came over the radio had made her sad and tense. She hadn’t been able to talk to Pulok properly for a few days as he went out very early to the garden and returned late at night.

‘Tell him today, there’s no need to guard the club anymore. It is enough. All the big commanders failed and he has gone to fight! Addison sahab is crazy. He wants to fight the Chinese with an air-gun. God only knows what he plans to do. Pulok’s father hasn’t returned yet. I am really worried. He usually doesn’t return so late. Don’t know what is happening. Most of the people in our village have left their homes to safety. It would have been better maybe if we had have gone too.’