‘Jamugurihat. My parents and my five brothers live there. I am studying at Jorhat Agriculture University. It was from the hostel that they arrested me. Do you have any idea where we are being taken?’

‘No. They have told us that we are being taken to a safe place for two or three days,’ Hong said.

When Ameng was arrested there was no one at the hostel to bid him farewell. Every boarder had gone home as the university had remained closed. Ameng had been forced to stay back in the hostel because of the check on the movements of the Chinese. Perhaps because he was arrested in the hostel, they let him bring his luggage. Even though Ameng was calm on the outside, he was extremely disturbed. He kept remembering his family and the face of a lovely girl whom he had not been able to say goodbye to. All he could do was leave a letter for Meghali with the watchman. He had seen people taking down the signboards outside Chinese restaurants. The owners had taken them down themselves in fear.

After talking to Lee Chang and the others, Ameng spread out his thin mattress. Then he requested Yunlin, Lee Chang’s wife Wai Kwan and Yiu Yi’s grandparents to sit down. He also asked old Chi Fu Hai to sit there. He spread one of his blankets on the floor for the children and asked Yiu Yi’s grandma to distribute biscuits and oranges among the children. Keeping aside two bed sheets for himself he sat along with C Hoi’s and Yiu Yi’s older uncle.

The inside of the coach brightened for a while.

Hong looked at Mei Hang. She had not spoken since her arrest. She was sitting with her eyes downcast. Hong asked Mei Hang to come with him and went to the door. Mei Hang got up and followed. No one noticed her go as they were all busy watching Ameng.

Mei Lin’s uncle took out his Mahjong board from his bundle and placed it on Ameng’s trunk. The elders looked at it in surprise. Slowly their faces brightened and soon they were completely engrossed in the game. The compartment had transformed into a home. After a few moments of hesitation, Chi Fu Hai took out a small bag which had opium and the paraphernalia required to smoke it. Yunlin’s father-in-law drew close. The people around smiled in amusement. Chi Fu Hai would soon be in seventh heaven. Then it was Yunlin’s father-in-law’s turn – he had brought his own opium.

Hong was standing near the door.

‘Why did you call me, Hong?’ Mei Hang asked slowly.

‘Is it possible to bring back your smile?’ Hong asked her gently, looking steadily at her.

‘It has gone to the battlefield. It hasn’t returned yet,’ she answered with the trace of a smile.

‘Even though the smile knew that I was waiting?’