‘We will tell you later. Call her. If you refuse, we will have to go in.’

‘Go and call her,’ Minaram Baruah swallowed hard and told his wife.

Pulok’s mother went in, with tears in her eyes. Mei Lin had heard the entire conversation and was standing inside, petrified.

‘They are asking for you, child. Did you hear what they said? Come. Otherwise they will come in.’

Mei Lin came out. The magistrate observed her from head to toe and asked, ‘Are you Mei Lin Ho?’

‘Yes. But now I’m Mei Lin Baruah.’

‘Is your home in Cheenapatti?’

‘Yes.’

‘Give us the names and addresses of your parents and the rest of the family.’

The magistrate sat on a chair. After writing down all the information, he said gravely, ‘We have come to arrest you. Here is the arrest warrant.’

‘What are you talking about? You’ve come to arrest her? What has she done?’ Pulok’s mother cried out.

‘There is an allegation of conspiracy against her.’

Conspiracy!

Everyone looked at the magistrate in utter bewilderment, including Mei Lin.

‘Someone has given you false information, just because she is Chinese. She has done nothing wrong, sir. Our daughter-in-law is a very good girl. Please don’t take her away, sir.’

‘It’s not in our hands. We have to carry out the orders. Get ready, Mei Lin Ho. You have five minutes. Take all your papers with you and a few essentials in a small handbag.’

‘Her husband has not returned from work yet. Please wait till he comes back,’ Pulok’s mother appealed desperately to the magistrate and then turned to Minaram. ‘Why don’t you say anything? They have come to take away our daughter-in-law. Why are you silent?’

Minaram Baruah lowered his head. Pulok’s mother looked at her husband intently for a few seconds and asked, ‘Where did you go today?’

‘To play cards. Where else?’ he answered awkwardly.

‘That’s a lie. Today you didn’t go to play cards. Tell me, where did you go? You have asked these people to come, haven’t you? You want to get rid of our daughter-in-law. Don’t you?’

‘I – I – why should I –’

‘How could you do this?’ Pulok’s mother broke down.

The neighbours were speechless. They looked at Minaram Baruah in confusion.

‘Alright, I’ll go with her then. I can’t send my daughter-in-law alone to the police station at this hour of the night,’ she looked at the magistrate.

‘No one can accompany her. That is the order. If you protest, she will get into more trouble. There is a definite allegation against her. In the present situation this is a very big allegation. We will see that she does not run into any more trouble. Now please go in, we are already late.’

‘Come Maa, let’s go in,’ Mei Lin said gently.

Pulok’s mother broke into helpless tears.