‘He had lost his mind. He kept on talking about going back to Makum. He used to cry. He neither worked, nor ate. Then one day, he collapsed in the fields. After two days he died. He died crying, do you know! Babu now works in a textile factory. Many other children have gone out to work. All have grown up. Some are still engaged in farming. Yiu Yi’s two elder brothers, having finished their studies, are working in good positions in Peking. What kind of work, I don’t know. Do you remember Parbati, Babu’s mother? Her health has deteriorated. Mok Min is very ill. Ho Chang Ho is fine too, but cries a lot remembering his sons. Chow Chi Yong, his wife and many other elders have become old. They sit quietly and weep. K. P. Lee doesn’t talk to anyone these days. He sits and works quietly. How rich he was! Enjoyed so many comforts!’

It was late afternoon by the time they picked up the medicines and reached the leather factory. Lao Thien Lee went inside and called his wife. She worked in the canteen. After talking to them for a while she went in to get some milk for them.

‘I am considering running away to Hong Kong secretly,’ Ho Wang said.

‘Hong Kong? How?’

‘Through an illegal route. There are people to assist, if someone wishes to flee. But they ask for a lot of money. Your asow says she won’t live here. It is not like Makum. We will leave secretly for Hong Kong. I told her to hide in a vegetable basket for a few hours and then disappear. Tell me if you can endure the journey,’ Ho Wang laughed.

‘I won’t go,’ Lao Thien Lee said. ‘Your asow is from this place. She likes it here. Our own people are here. I have told Ho Wang not to take the illegal route. I have heard that a new law will be passed for the overseas Chinese. People who have relatives outside China are allowed to go there.’

Lao Thien’s wife returned holding a packet in her hand.

‘There is milk and some food and toffees for the children. Some clothes for you all as well,’ she said.

‘When you come next time, inform the authorities. The rules are much more relaxed than before.’

When Liang and Lee Chang returned to the camp, it was dark. Hong had returned from the town, too. Everyone was in Mei Lin’s room.

Lailin had fainted. Mei Lin was crying in despair. Everyone else stood motionless beside her.

Lee Chang handed the medicines to Mei Lin.

Lailin’s temperature decreased slowly. Mei Lin wiped her tears. Mei Hang started to unpack the bundles Liang and Lee Chang had brought.

‘Look what we have brought, Lailin,’ Lee Chang gave her a handful of toffees and smiled.