This seemed reasonable enough, so Bibi went in. She found the SHO sitting across a table—his eyes glued on Bibi, as if trying to pierce through the black veil. A bunch of papers and an inkpot with two wooden pens dipped in the holder were lying on the right side of the large wooden desk. Bibi sensed his intentions and grew uncomfortable. The SHO quickly removed one of the pens from the inkpot and placed it in front of Bibi. She hurriedly signed the documents without even reading them. Then she stood up in a hurry and was about to leave when the SHO rushed to the door and bolted it from inside.

‘Bibi,’ he said, looking at her lustfully. ‘What you have just signed is sufficient for me to send you back to Hindustan. It says that you’re not interested in living in Pakistan and would like to go back to your country. But if you do wish to live here, then spend the next hour with me . . . I’ll make sure you stay here with your sons and their father, or else . . .’ he looked straight at her. ‘It’s up to you. Decide quickly.’

Bibi was astounded. She could not believe what she had just heard. Then fear took over. Her heart started pounding in her chest, and she cried and pleaded for mercy. But the lust-driven cop was in no mood to relent; he was not going to give up the golden goose so easily. He strode towards her and held her tightly by her arms. Bibi retracted her arms but, while doing so, fell on her back on the table. She let out a loud scream and then burst into tears. The constable standing outside on watch heard her screams but didn’t have the guts to interfere. He pretended that he had not heard a thing. However, soon her screams could be heard till the road. The old woman rushed over and tried to intervene, but she was forcefully stopped by the same havildar. He threatened her with dire consequences and angrily pushed her in the direction of the tonga. Seeing the commotion, the horseman came running to help the old woman. But he too was abused and threatened by the cop. ‘Return to Sadali or I will put you behind bars!’ barked the sentry.

Helpless and scared, the horseman drove the tonga away from the police station and parked it on the other side of the road. Then, stepping down from the tonga, he sat on the tarmac and began praying for Bibi’s safety. The elderly woman joined him, and together they sought heavenly intervention for Bibi’s safe return. At the police chowki, the havildar saw the tonga pulling over, but except for frantically waving his hand and directing the tonga driver to go away, he couldn’t do anything.