‘Move. Move. Board the train. Put everything back in the train. Take your food with you. Quick. Quick.’

Mei Lin looked at the frustrated people who could not get their share and then looked at her own bowl. It was filled with khichdi.

Khagen Baishya returned to the compartment. Alen’s father came to him and asked anxiously, ‘Where is my stove?’

‘I pleaded with them, but they wouldn’t give it back. They said they would give it at the next station.’

The old man sat on the floor in frustration and cried out, ‘My child will die!’

‘You had a tin of baby food. Is it over?’

‘There is just a little left. But it won’t last even two days. Besides, there is no hot water around.’

Offering his flask, Khagen Baishya said, ‘There is some hot water here. Use this to make some food for your son.’

Alen’s father looked at Khagen Baisya with surprise. Then he took the flask from him with both hands and wiped his tears.

The train had just started to move.

Mei Lin looked at the children around her. Most of their hands were empty. Borrowing a saucepan lid, she poured a portion of her share.

‘Come on children, come and eat khichdi.’

Everyone in the compartment looked towards Mei Lin. After a moment, Liang came forward through the crowd and without saying a word he added some khichdi from his share. Many others followed him. Yiu Yi’s grandma and Yunlin’s mother-in-law came to help distribute the khichdi among the children. Then they got more for the elders who had been unable to get it for themselves.

Khagen Baishya watched in silence. His own food had come in a steel plate with many sections. There was rice, lentils, vegetables and a few other things. After looking at Mei Lin and others for some time, he called out to the children. As they came hesitantly, he distributed his share of the vegetables among them. Then he divided the rice and lentils amongst the smallest of the children.

Chi Fu Hai came up to Baishya and said, ‘Please take some khichdi, sahab. You are a good person.’

The army officer’s family, who were in the special compartment, had just sat down for a sumptuous lunch.

Jalpaiguri was about four hours away. A large group of detainees from Darjeeling and the surrounding areas were waiting there to board the train.

When the train reached the station, Khagen Baishya looked outside and returned to inform the people.

‘It’s Jalpaiguri.’

Jalpaiguri!

Mei Fung sat up, startled. Jalpaiguri meant Siliguri was near! Her would-be husband lived here! Had he been arrested too?

‘Ko Fuk. Makum Chinese School Hostel. Ko Fuk, Mal Bazaar.’

The detainees of all the compartments became restless. They opened all the windows.

Khagen Baishya ran towards the door, shouting, ‘Ko Fuk is here. Here.’

Carrying Ko Fuk, Ameng came to the door.,