‘We will not do that. He has agreed now. At the beginning he made some fuss about Pulok marrying a Chinese girl. We tried our best to convince him. I told him it is Pulok who is getting married. It will be your son’s family. We should think only about his happiness. They have grown up together. They studied in the same school. We have been there for each other through thick and thin. You are no less than our own. What is the use of thinking who came from where? Don’t think about Pulok’s father. Let us get them married this month, or else Pulok might elope with her. He said he has got a quarter in the garden,’ said Pulok’s mother.

‘This month? That gives us very little time,’ said Mei Lin’s father.

‘That’s not a problem. It will all work out.’

‘Our relatives are scattered in Silghat, Tezpur and other places. We will have to send people to invite them. We care for her a lot. We wanted to have a grander wedding.’

‘Then send people to invite them,’ Mei Lin’s aunt said.

‘But nobody can come now,’ Mei Lin’s uncle told his wife.

‘Why not?’

‘We are not allowed to move about freely, don’t you know?’

‘What are you talking about?’ Mei Lin’s aunt asked with surprise. Her husband did not want to talk about the problem in front of Pulok’s family.

‘I’ll tell you afterwards. We can do without the people from outside. We have a lot of our people in Makum and Tinsukia.’

‘You are right. You have your own people here. We are also there. Pulok and Mei Lin’s friends are also there. Can there be any closer people than the ones staying near you?’

Pulok and Yiu Yi arrived on the scene. Mei Lin brought in the tea along with their special moon cake made for the moon festival. Although somewhat shy, Mei Lin was reasonably at ease with this family she had always known.

As they were having their tea, they heard some noise outside.

‘Seven Star must have won,’ Pulok said in excitement.

‘Who did they play against today?’ Mei Lin’s father asked.

‘Against the Rovers.’

Pulok looked at his mother. ‘Maa, can I go now? They might feel bad if I don’t. I neither played nor watched the game today.’

‘OK, go. But don’t be late.’

‘Please take Yiu Yi back, Mei Lin.’ Pulok looked at Mei Lin for a brief moment and went out happily.

‘Hip hip hurray! Hip hip hurray!’

Boys in dirty jerseys, their faces glowing, were getting off a truck in front of Mok Min’s shop. Pulok joined them.