The boys from the hostel and Cha Mu were in Mei Lin’s compartment. Most of the boys had found their parents from among the many Chinese people who had boarded the train from various stations on the way. Ko Fuk, Manchung, Wong Choi, Aheng and Ho Yin were yet to be reunited with their parents. The families of Yiu Yi, Siu, Liang, Lee Chang, Akong, Yao Sen, Hong and Chi Fu Hai were also with them. So were the families of Mei Lin’s uncle, Yunlin’s family, Anjali’s uncle’s family and Mei Lin’s father. People were sitting on the berths and also on the floor. A middle-aged man boarded the train along with his differently-abled son at one station. The boy was playing and drooling like a baby.

Khagen Baishya, who was in charge of the group, was sitting near the door of the compartment. He sat on his bed and watched the scene around him without speaking to anyone. That was the only space which was not occupied as no one dared to sit near him.

Suddenly the train came to a halt.

People became alert. Some of the passengers went to the windows to peep through the crack. Khagen Baishya opened the door a little to look out and opened it fully. A handsome young man entered. The guards who came to drop him helped him up with all his belongings and also gave him some food for the journey.

The platform was packed with curious people of all ages, who had come to see what was going on. They all looked at the train in surprise.

Suddenly, a sandal was hurled at the train. Just after that they started abusing and pelting stones at the train. The detainees, who were waiting on the platform, covered their heads and, holding their children close to them, hurried into the waiting train. Even after the doors were closed they could hear the stones hit the train.

The newcomer was looking around trying to find a place for himself. Everyone inside the compartment was looking at him and his luggage in surprise. What a lot of stuff!

‘You can sit here,’ Khagen Baishya spoke for the first time. ‘What is your name?’

‘Ameng Tham.’

‘Where were you arrested?’ Chi Fu Hai asked.

‘In Jorhat.’

‘Did they let you bring all this stuff?’

‘Yes, the policemen were very kind. They even brought water and other stuff for me. They were very sad at the turn of events.’

‘We were not allowed to bring anything with us. Even our gold and money was snatched away from us in the Dibrugarh jail.’ Ho Fuk narrated sadly.

‘Where is your home? Where is the rest of your family?’ Hong asked the man, to change the subject.