‘Phulmoni wrote. After we were taken away, he left his house and went to live in the garden quarters. He doesn’t visit his parents. Addison sahab had come to our house. He said that he and Pulok were trying to get you released. He told my mother that Pulok’s father had reported you to the police. That is why it is difficult to get you released from here.’

Everyone fell quiet. After a while, Akong spoke again, ‘Pulok is extremely disturbed. He hardly speaks to anyone. He visited our house just twice. He did nothing but weep. After getting my letter, Phulmoni went to his quarters in the garden, but he’d already gone to Shillong. Write to him tomorrow, and give the address of the garden.’

Trying hard to control the gush of grief that threatened to flood her senses, Mei Lin sat there silently.

‘Don’t worry. Everything will be alright again. With Addison sahab trying so hard, I am sure it will work out. A family has been released from Wing 1, did you know?’ Yao Sen said.

This eased the tension. ‘Hey Mei Hang, your mother asked me about Hong today.’ Tung Chin looked at Mei Hang.

‘Oh God, what did she ask?’ Mei Hang’s eyes twinkled with mischief.

‘What else will she ask? You know it! I’ve told her everything.’

‘I’ll treat you to sweetmeats. Tell me, was she laughing, or crying?’

‘She just let out a deep breath and said, “Thank God!” Perhaps she thought that you would never get married.’

The courtyard was brightened with the laughter of the group of friends. Chun Fu Thien arrived in the middle of all the laughter.

They chatted for a while. Mei Fung and Ahlin brought tea for everyone. After tea, Ameng said, ‘Sing a song for us, Thien.’

‘Alright, just wait. Let me go and get my erhu,’ Thien said.

Lee Chang brought a tub and Tung Chin a plate. After Chun Fu started singing, all the men slowly started gathering near them. Finishing their cooking as fast as they could, the women joined, too. The children stopped playing and came closer. Thien’s magical voice transported them to a different world. Slowly, tranquility descended on Wing 5. Gradually, as the night darkened, silvery moonlight enveloped them all. Siu was looking at Thien intently. Her heart was filled with intense love and longing for him. Hong took Mei Hang’s hand into his own without anyone noticing.

Bringing them back to reality, a man announced, ‘The deputy commander has come.’

They rushed to the place where the deputy commander was waiting. When everyone had gathered, he began, ‘There is news for you. The Chinese government has said that they will take you back. They will send ships to take all of you back.’