Tung Chin came out, carrying a heap of letters that had been opened and censored by the authorities. It did not matter to him. It was enough that he had received the letters. Seeing Mei Lin, he said, his face shining, ‘Uncountable numbers of letters have come. Everyone from our families has sent letters. I have even received Chitta’s letter. I am going. Have to distribute the letters. Everyone’s waiting.’

Those who received letters were happy and excited, those who didn’t were gloomy and tearful.

Mok Min came out crying. He had asked a relative to keep an eye on the gold and money he had hidden in his house. But the letter didn’t reach his relatives. While censoring his letter someone had hidden it and looted his life’s savings.

Alan’s father and Yao Sen were happy after their letters arrived. Yiu Yi’s father, however, returned worried. He had received a letter from Yiu Yi’s mother, who was staying with Alan’s family. She had written that someone had opened the back door of their house, left in Rajendra’s custody, and looted all the valuables.

One after the other, people were returning from the gate, bearing news of happiness and sorrow. It was almost dark when Mei Lin’s turn came.

The officer seated in front of a heap of letters asked, ‘What’s your name?’

‘It was Mei Lin Ho before I got married. Now it is Mei Lin Baruah.’

‘Baruah is not a Chinese surname. What community did you marry into?’

‘Assamese.’

‘Really? And yet they arrested you? Strange, isn’t it?’ the man remarked, as he looked for a letter addressed to Mei Lin Baruah.

‘No, there is no letter for you.’

The spark in her face suddenly disappeared. Speechless, she looked at the man. He checked the letters again and shook his head, ‘No, there is no letter addressed to Mei Lin Baruah or Mei Lin Ho.’

‘That is impossible. Will you look just once more, sir?’

‘Didn’t sir say no letter has come? Why are you bothering him?’ a guard standing beside the officer said harshly.

‘Oh-ho! Be quiet. Can’t you see how upset she is?’

Concealing her tear-filled eyes, Mei Lin returned slowly to her wing.

Some people happily shared their news with her. She feigned cheerfulness. There was no reason to ruin other people’s moods with her agony.

All her friends were sitting in front of her room on a charpoy. Seeing them, she became cheerless again. She sat silently near Siu.

‘You provided the house address on the letter, didn’t you?’ Akong asked her.

‘Yes.’

‘He may not have got the letter. I have come to know he hardly stays at home.’

‘How do you know?’ Mei Lin asked in surprise.