They gaped at the commander. A deathly silence had descended on Wing 5. But soon there were a hundred questions and arguments.

‘How can they send everyone? We had applied to say we didn’t want to go. All our relatives are in India. The government can’t do this!’

‘We can’t change government orders. You have seven days in hand. If you want to reapply, you can do so. We will forward your applications. But the order is that all of you have to go. You don’t have a choice. They have decided to send you in batches. The first batch, whose names are on this list here, has to be ready to leave by early morning. I’ll read out the list in a moment.’

In that unbearable heat, they waited with bated breath.

‘We’ll start with Mok Min and his family.’

Mok Min stood there unconcerned and unperturbed. What would he do in Makum anyway? All his happiness had been destroyed. He had nothing left. It no longer mattered to him where he went; China or India – it was all the same.

‘After that, Ho Chang Ho and his family.’

‘And what about his sons?’

‘They will go later.’

‘Go later? How can that be? If they go, they will go together, or not go at all.’

‘This is what it says on the list – I can’t change the list. Whichever names are here, only they have to go.’

This was not a list, but an order to break up families! Homes were being torn apart, one after another!

‘There is no cause for worry. You can go in the second batch. Besides, another ship will arrive soon,’ the camp commander tried to pacify them.

Mei Hang’s family was third on the list. But not all of them. It was just Mei Hang’s parents and all but one of her siblings. Her own name and that of her older brother were not in the list.

In the middle of all the cries and clamour, Mei Hang looked at Hong. Would his name be on the list too?

Mei Lin Ho was number four.

The crowd looked at the commander in utter disbelief.

‘How can Mei Lin go? And why should she go? She’s married to an Indian. What right did the government have to drive her away from her country?’ Lee Chang and his companion stood up with reddened faces.

Mei Lin was petrified. She looked at the commander with dumb eyes.

‘You keep quiet. Let Mei Lin Ho speak.’

Mei Lin stood up, controlling herself forcibly.

‘My husband’s name is Pulok Baruah. Does he know that my name has been included in the list?’

The camp commander checked the papers and shook his head.

‘We have no information about your husband Pulok Baruah. No one has contacted us in this regard. And no one has applied to go with you.’

Mei Lin looked around in utter confusion.