Pulok’s mother talked to Mei Lin while cooking. Mei Lin kept listening. She was very fond of her simple and loving mother-in-law.

Minaram Baruah returned after some time. Greeting the neighbours who were waiting to listen to Nehru’s speech on the radio, he went to freshen up.

‘Where have you been?’ Pulok’s mother asked in irritation. ‘Both father and son are the same. Pulok also has not come yet. Mei Lin is waiting to go to Cheenapatti with him.’

‘Why are they going there? At this late hour?’ he asked cautiously.

‘What are you saying? Don’t you know that his in-laws live in Cheenapatti? Where were you? Have the Chinese soldiers reached this place? Have you heard anything about it?’

‘No, I haven’t.’

Minaram Baruah went inside. By the time he finished tea, Nehru’s voice came floating on the radio.

Huge Chinese armies have been marching in the northern part of the North-East Frontier Agency. In the north also, in Ladakh, in the Chusul area, the Chinese have been attacking fiercely. They have been held. Now what is happening is very serious and very saddening to us. I can well understand what our friends in Assam must be feeling because all this is happening on their doorstep, one might say. I want to tell them that we feel for them and that we shall help them to the best of our ability.

Everyone was listening to the speech intently. Minaram Baruah came and sat down, his mind filled with fear. He was sitting absentmindedly among the guests.

We shall not accept any terms that they may offer, because they may think that we are a little frightened by some setbacks. I want to make it clear to all of you, and more especially to our countrymen in Assam, to whom my heart goes out at this moment.

A vehicle stopped at the gate. Startled by the sound, people got up and went to the doorway. Switching off the radio with trembling hands and wiping the sweat from his face, Minaram Baruah came out diffidently.

‘Police!’ someone said fearfully.

A group of armed policemen got down and walked towards the house.

‘Why have the police come here?’ Minaram Baruah’s wife, who had come out, whispered.

Minaram Baruah looked at his wife and said sternly, ‘Why have you come out? Go inside.’

‘Why have the police come?’

‘How should I know?’

In the meantime, the policemen reached the verandah. The guests returned to the sitting room and stood against a wall.

The magistrate entered and looked around the room.

‘Who is Minaram Baruah?’

‘It’s me, sir. Namaskar, sir,’ Minaram Baruah said fearfully with folded hands.

‘Call Mei Lin, your Chinese daughter-in-law.’

It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck the house. The people were speechless.

‘What are you waiting for? Go. Call her here.’

‘What has our daughter-in-law done?’ Pulok’s mother asked from behind the door.