Smiling, Thakur Prasad said, ‘The Chinese who have residential permits have to go and report at the Foreigner’s Registration Office regularly. When their permits expire they have to renew them. Dulal’s father didn’t report this in time. They served him a notice. Dulal’s father took me along to identify him. When I was asked whether I knew him, I said, “I’ve never seen him before.” He was fined three hundred rupees and jailed for two months.’ Thakur Prasad burst out laughing. ‘Measure for measure.’

‘That was really unfair, Thakra,’ Pulok said gravely.

‘Why is it unfair? You can’t imagine how wicked these Chinese are. I know what they do. They are not at all trustworthy. I didn’t pick a fight with him. He called me a government agent. I showed him what a government is!’

‘Are you on talking terms with Dulal now?’

‘Why not? He is my friend.’

‘What a friend!’ Everyone laughed except Robin.

‘Let’s go,’ he said.

They left the place promptly. Robin was a tough and uncompromising man. He might have hit Thakur Prasad.

‘Thakra is a peculiar chap. I don’t like him,’ said Narayan.

‘Yes, he is strange,’ Chitta nodded in agreement, ‘You can never tell whether he is serious or joking.’

On the left, just after Thakur Prasad’s house was C Hoi’s house. He was waiting for them on the front verandah. His eyes glowed with happiness.

Pulok and his friends looked curiously at the house – small, with a slanting roof. The front veranda was spacious. This was where, he did his woodwork. They could see some half-made furniture and tools in the corner. On the right was a forge. There was no fire in the forge. The factory was closed that day.

Pulok and his friends were slightly disappointed. They never thought that C Hoi’s house would be so simple. He was a famous carpenter in the region. He was very skilled and people came looking for him from far and wide. He’d devoted a lot of time and care to build this house. Pulok and his friends had expected to find something stunning. The place had been hidden from view by a high bamboo wall for a long time. Today the wall was down, and in its place was a beautifully designed short wooden fence.

Pulok and his friends looked around. There were paper lanterns and couplets like other houses, arranged for the New Year. The children of the house, who were out in the courtyard in their new clothes, stopped playing to stare at Pulok and his friends. Their entire persona reflected the glow of good health and the happiness of a secure life. Dressed in the usual ankle-length pants and waist-length flowery top worn by Chinese women, C Hoi’s wife and his mother were busy shifting household things. They smiled shyly at the visitors.