‘I promise.’

The girl became animated.

‘There was a child born to someone living in the Hindu locality. Without even thinking about communal troubles the hijras were there to sing. Hindus and Sikhs—I do not like Sikhs—got hold of them and wanted to kill them because they were Muslim.’ She stopped deliberately.

‘What happened?’ asked Hukum Chand eagerly.

The girl laughed and clapped her hands the way hijras do, stretching her fingers wide. ‘They started to beat their drums and sing in their raucous male voices. They whirled round so fast that their skirts flew in the air. Then they stopped and asked the leaders of the mob, “Now you have seen us, tell us, are we Hindus or Muslims?” and the whole crowd started laughing—the whole crowd except the Sikhs.’

Hukum Chand also laughed.

‘That is not all. The Sikhs came with their kirpans and threatened them saying, “We will let you go this time, but you must get out of Chundennugger or we will kill you.” One of the hijras again clapped his hands and ran his fingers in a Sikh’s beard and asked, “Why? Will all of you become like us and stop having children?” Even the Sikhs started laughing.’

‘That is a good one,’ said Hukum Chand. ‘But you should be careful while all this disturbance is going on. Stay at home for a few days.’

‘I am not frightened. We know so many people so well and then I have a big powerful Magistrate to protect me. As long as he is there no one can harm a single hair of my head.’

Hukum Chand continued to run his hands through the girl’s hair without saying anything. The girl looked up at him smiling mischievously. ‘You want me to go to Pakistan?’

Hukum Chand pressed her closer. A hot feverish feeling came over him. ‘Haseena.’ He cleared his throat again. ‘Haseena.’ Words would not come out of his mouth.

‘Haseena, Haseena, Haseena. I am not deaf. Why don’t you say something?’

‘You will stay here today, won’t you? You do not want to go away just yet?’

‘Is that all you wanted to say? If you do not give me your car, I cannot go five miles in the rain. But if you make me sing or spend another night here you will have to give me a big bundle of notes.’

Hukum Chand felt relieved.

‘What is money?’ he said with mock gallantry. ‘I am ready to lay down my life for you.’