Pulok was talking to Jhuma. Hearing the creak of the bamboo gate, Jhuma got up. It was Chitta. Asking Jhuma to make tea for three, Chitta sat down. After a while, Mei Lin walked in.
Mei Lin was wearing a mekhela-chador today. She let her straight, jet-black, plaited hair fall over her shoulders. Walking in the sun, the shyness and the excitement made her blush deeply. Pulok looked at her enchanting face with fascination.
Their eyes met for a brief moment. Mei Lin smiled and lowered her head. After chatting for a while over tea, Chitta left the room. Immediately shyness overcame Mei Lin.
‘I’m seeing you after a long time,’ Pulok said gently.
‘Eighteen days!’
‘You counted?’
Mei Lin looked at Pulok. A few moments passed in silence.
‘I’ve spoken to my father about us,’ he said quietly.
She looked at Pulok with apprehension.
‘He doesn’t approve of our marriage. Maa has also tried to reason with him but he refuses to listen.’
The glow on Mei Lin’s face disappeared. After a few quiet moments, Pulok spoke, ‘If my father doesn’t agree, I will take you with me. Addison sahab has promised to give me family quarters in the tea garden by August or September. We will wait till then. Before that, if Deuta agrees, well and good. If not, I’ll marry you the Chinese way if needed and take you with me to the garden.’
Mei Lin looked at Pulok with deep longing and said, ‘You are the only son.’
‘I know. I have never done anything to hurt my family. I’ve always listened to them. But this is my life, Mei Lin. I won’t be able to live without you. Look at me. Tell me, can you live without me?’
Tears filled Mei Lin’s eyes, ‘Don’t you know?’
‘I can’t sacrifice my love just because I am the only son. You may be able to do so, but I can’t.’
‘September is still some time away. You can try to reason with your father again.’
‘I’ll definitely do that. But if he persists in being unreasonable, then after getting the quarters, I’ll take you away. Don’t object then.’
Mei Lin did not answer. After a while she stood up. ‘I’ll go now. I feel shy talking to you like this for long.’
‘Will you feel shy even after we are married and I take you around with me?’
‘You are impossible. I am leaving.’
‘Will you not allow me to even hold your hand?’
‘Dhet!’
‘What kind of a girl are you?’
‘A Chinese girl.’ She giggled. ‘I must go now.’
‘I have something for you.’ Gently lifting up her hand, he placed in it the bag he had brought from Lee Chang’s shop.
‘It’s for you.’
Holding the bag with both hands, Mei Lin looked at it closely for a few seconds. She felt herself blush. Then, hugging the bag, she slowly walked away.
Two
In an Assam-type quarter of the Babu line of the Raidang tea estate, Pulok and his friends sat in Akong’s house. Akong worked as a fitter in the garden. All of them played for the Seven Star Club, and with the exception of Liang and Rameswar, the rest were childhood friends and classmates as well. Tung Chin supervised the business of Makum’s famous contractor, Ho Yen Kee. Liang was an apprentice carpenter in Samdang tea estate. Yao Sen had his own garage. Narayan was a teacher at Ganga Bishan Chowkhani High School. Rameswar had a cycle shop, while Robin was a junior officer with the Assam Rifles. Robin had come home after a long time and hence every one had gathered at Akong’s place.