‘I only want him back,’ she replied full of emotion. ‘I don’t care what he says or does, but he must come home now.’

Buta Singh felt that he should not let the matter be postponed indefinitely. ‘Will you go tomorrow morning? I have to tell the sub-inspector.’

‘What is the hurry? We have waited so many days. We should think about it a little more.’ answered Sabhrai.

Buta Singh launched into another tirade. When he finished telling her how little she appreciated the gravity of the situation, how stubborn and stupid she had become of late, Sabhrai got up. ‘I will talk to the inspector myself,’ she said.

The sub-inspector stood up and saluted Sabhrai.

‘Have you come from the police station where my son is kept?’

‘Yes, Mataji, your son is in our care.’

‘Tell your senior officer I will come to the police station four days from now. I will come, not my husband. I would also like to bring my son’s dog with me. He has missed his master very much.’

‘Very good, Mataji. I will tell the Inspector Sahib. Is there anything you want to send to your son or any message you want me to give him.’

Sabhrai thought for a while. ‘If you wait for a moment, I will give you something for him.’ She went into the house and came back with a small prayer book wrapped in velvet. ‘Give this to my little Ruby and tell him to say his prayers regularly. Tell him that the Guru is with him in body and in spirit. Sat Sri Akal.’

The sub-inspector was a Muslim. Nevertheless he put the Sikh prayer book reverently to his forehead and then kissed it. ‘Mataji, I will give it to him myself. Allah will protect your son from harm.’