Towards the end of the journey, Babu asked Arunabh, ‘Have you met Lailin’s mother?’

Emerging from his thoughts, Arunabh answered, ‘Yes, I did.’

‘Most of the people who came from India remember Makum often. They only say they want to visit their birthplace. Many have lost their mind. They only talk about India. Yiu Yi’s mother is still there. She hardly speaks to anyone.’

Babu looked at Pulok and asked, ‘Do you remember Yiu Yi’s friends, Anjali, Ko Fuk and Mei Ho?’

Slowly the fragmented memories from the past were coming together. Pulok nodded slowly.

‘All three friends met in Hong Kong after fifteen years. They are the same as before. Mok Min’s family became rich again after coming to Hong Kong. Everyone is better now.’ Babu kept on giving them information.

Finally the car arrived at its destination.

‘We remember India every year. We sing and dance but we don’t lament. Only fun and laughter.’

Holding Pulok’s hand, Arunabh stood at the door of the hall. Most of the people did not notice Arunabh and Pulok. The environment was festive. Three middle-aged women, dressed like the actresses of yesteryear’s Hindi cinema were dancing to the tune of an old Hindi song. On the well-decorated dais, a scene from before the war had come alive.

On entering the hall, a swarm of people gathered around them, whom Arunabh had heard about but not seen.

A middle-aged lady wearing a sari draped in the old style came forward and asked Babu, ‘Have they come from India?’

‘Yes. From Assam.’

Extending her hand for a handshake, she said, ‘I am Anjali.’

Anjali!

An image of a young girl in school uniform flashed before Pulok’s mind.

‘Did you study in the Makum Chinese School?’

‘Yes. How do you know?’ she asked in surprise.

‘He knows everything. See if you can recognise him,’ Babu said.

‘I don’t. Who is he?’

‘Pulok Baruah.’

‘Pulok Baruah? From Makum? Mei Lin ache’s –’

Anjali was dumbfounded. She looked at Pulok for some time and then ran to call Mei Ho and Ko Fuk. Many others from Makum also came running with them. Some started murmuring among themselves and some looked at Pulok with great surprise.

Today, Arunabh was the special guest at that celebration. Everyone knew an Assamese author named Arunabh Bora had written about them in a book. They had come to attend the celebration as well as to meet him.

‘Come, sit,’ Yiu Yi’s older brother said.

Arunabh and Pulok were led to the front row where the elders were sitting. Pulok looked around in confusion.

Where was Mei Lin? Where was his daughter, whom he had never seen?

‘Where is Mei Lin?’ Pulok asked loudly, extremely worried now.