Anshuman Tiwari was a little surprised when the gang of six ambushed him at ten o’clock in the morning as he arrived at his shop along Serangoon Road. He invited them in for tea and quickly made sense of the befuddling colloquy. He was intrigued when he found out that the gang of six had been turned down by Sasukumar before they came to him. That knowledge sealed his decision to help them. The truth was, he had an axe to grind with the grassroots leader.

Anshuman had been elected to the chairmanship of the Little India Shopkeepers Association five years ago. His progressive style of leadership sat well with the younger members who were inspired by his readiness to embrace change and technology. In contrast, the older members felt nervous and leant towards the most senior among the old guards—the Treasurer Sasukumar Sathiyaseelan. Over the years, the two factions managed to ride a series of small turbulence and continued to collaborate cordially.

Until the Little India riot upset the balance.

Anshuman Tiwari was furious when the MP Sharon Shi and the police commissioner sprang the surprise of the alcohol sales ban. He felt the burn of betrayal when Sasukumar tried to persuade the members to accept and support the decree from the police. Anshuman had wanted to fight the ban, but Sasukumar convinced everyone that had they done that, they would emerge an enemy of the people. Given how frightened the nation was right after the riot, the majority of the members casted their votes not to rock the national boat.

“You have my assurance,” Anshuman leant forward to rub Nayagam reassuringly on his back. “Let me know once the police issue you a notification. I will call for a press conference to appeal to the public. We merchants of Little India have had enough of this nonsense!”

Sharon was caught off-guard when The Straits Times and the online news portals reported the press conference held by the Little India Shopkeepers Association. The chairman made an impassioned public appeal to the people of Singapore. The Little India riot was committed by migrant workers of South India origin. The shops and eateries in Little India were run by Singaporean Indians. Why should the latter be made to suffer for the transgressions of the former? The 122 rioters had already been apprehended and would be sentenced very soon. The alcohol sales ban ought to be rescinded.