The internees from Deoli started entering the hotel. The people waiting outside cried out the names of their relatives. Only a few words could be exchanged as they moved along. No one was allowed to stop and talk even for a moment. Looking back and crying constantly, they moved forward.

The first person in the line was Mok Min.

He walked ahead with his head lowered. His family followed him. Then came Lao Thien Lee’s family.

Pramila Gogoi was trying to find her family by pushing through the crowd. Where were they? She looked everywhere frantically but couldn’t spot them.

Tung Chin was also looking around for his dear ones. Where was Maa? And where was Xonpahi? Where were Achin and the other members of his family? His elder brother too, was anxiously looking around for his family.

‘Move aside,’ a guard said harshly, pushing Tung Chin to the side. Tung Chin’s father kept looking around for his loving companion of thirty-five years.

Pramila Gogoi came forward with Madhabi and the children. Tung Chin looked at everyone and asked his mother, ‘Xonpahi? Where is Xonpahi, Ma?’

‘She couldn’t come.’

Couldn’t come! Xonpahi!

‘Why couldn’t she come? Who held her back, Maa?’

‘It’s not her fault. They took her away forcibly.’

‘But who? Who took her away forcibly?’

‘Her elder brother. She cried a lot and pleaded with him to let her go. But he wouldn’t listen. He took her with him forcibly.’

‘My daughter-in-law did not come. She was afraid to go to China. That is not her own country, you know. Who would want to leave one’s own country, tell me?’

‘But you’ve come. Why have you come, Maa?’

‘Everyone’s mind is not alike. Don’t think that she didn’t come because she doesn’t love you. She has asked for your forgiveness. And she has sent a letter with me.’

All of Yiu Yi’s siblings embraced their mother, crying loudly. Seeing her ragged children, she too, broke down in tears, hugging and kissing them constantly.

After a while, she looked around and asked, ‘Where is Yiu Yi?’

Yiu Yi!

Her children went stiff. The adults became silent. They all stood with their heads lowered. Surprised at their behaviour she asked again, ‘Where is Yiu Yi?’

‘She left with the previous group,’ her husband said gently. ‘The government organizes everything. Her name had come up so she had to go. There was no way out. Now come along, let us go to our room. We have to leave soon.’

Standing in a corner, Ameng was looking sadly at everything. He was going away to an unknown country, leaving everyone behind. He couldn’t contact anyone. He could not say goodbye to anybody.

Oh Meghali!

Meghali hadn’t answered a single letter that Ameng had written. No, she did once. She wrote a short letter in response to all his letters.