Scattered Fates - a novel on the second partition of India
Chapter 12: THE PLOT THICKENS
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Moon woke up with a start. Someone was banging on the front door, shouting something in Tamil. He looked at his watch, it was seven already and the sunlight was streaming through the window bars forming the pattern of a prison grill on the floor.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Why is Professor Subbaiah not answering the door?
He painfully got up and tightened the knot of his lungi.
Although Subbaiah had brought his luggage from the hostel, Moon felt comfortable wearing the lungi. It provided for great ventilation in the hot and humid weather. The only irritant was the constant need to tighten the knot so that it did not slip away.
He limped to the living room, and realized that Subbaiah was not home.
More knocking and shouting; the voice was certainly not friendly. In fact, it seemed overtly aggressive.
He peeked through a window in the living room, managing to hide himself behind the curtain. There were a few armed policemen standing a little distance away, while one of them was menacingly banging on the door, pistol in hand.
Moon was frightened and confused.
What is happening? Where is Professor Subbaiah?
‘Who is it? Professor is not at home,’ he shouted out.
More banging. He peeked out again and noticed Professor Ganapathy standing on the side with his wife and a couple of other neighbors. He was talking to a few policemen.
Relieved, he drew the curtain to a side, coming in plain view. He tried to draw Ganapathy's attention, but when that failed, he shouted out in Corean, ‘Shikoro.’
The policeman at the door came to the window and seemed surprised to see him. He said something in Tamil again.
Using body language, Moon told him to wait a moment, while he opened the door.
As soon as he unlatched the door, the policeman pushed him aside and rushed in. He searched all the rooms, before coming out again. By this time Ganapathy had come forward to console Moon.
‘Sir, what is happening? Why are the policemen here? I have a student visa,’ he quivered.
‘Don't worry young man they are not after you. They are searching for Subbaiah. Any idea where he is?’
‘No sir, he went out at night saying he had a meeting. I don't think he has come back.’
Ganapathy said something to the policeman, who glared at Moon, got into the rusty jeep and retreated.
‘Why are they looking for Professor Subbaiah?’
‘They have an arrest warrant for him. The police are taking many people under preventive custody to stop the riots. He has been identified as a troublemaker.’
‘Sir, is there a lot of violence?’
‘Unimaginable. We didn't get the newspaper today, but I heard on the radio that the whole city is burning. Last night they brought in the army, which only made matters worse. The situation is equally bad in Andhra, Mysore and Kerala.’
‘What about the other states? I heard there are more non-Hindi speaking areas.’
‘No. They have not joined the protests. I am glad they understand the need to keep India united,’ Ganapathy replied. ‘Did you have breakfast?’
‘No, they woke me up.’
‘Fine. You can wash up and come over to my home, Vijaylaxmi can make a few more idlis.’
‘Thank you sir, I will be there in 30 minutes.’
Moon latched the front door, and went into the kitchen. He badly needed some coffee.
Standing near the stove was Subbaiah with a finger to the lips.
‘Sir, you are here,’ Moon whispered.
‘Yes, I hid in the cupboard, they wanted to arrest me.’
‘What for?’
‘To crush our movement, Anna and Karunanidhi have gone underground, it is time for me to disappear too.’
‘What about me?’
‘Don't worry. I will return every night and leave before sunrise. Keep the back door unlatched at all times. Just don't tell anyone, not even Ganapathy, I am beginning to suspect his behavior.’
‘For how long will this go on?’
‘As long as it takes.’
‘Moon did you close the front door?’ Subbaiah suddenly squealed.
‘Yes sir,’ Moon replied worried. ‘What about my food?’
‘It is a good thing I stocked up on noodles. They should last for at least a week. I am sure Vijaylaxmi will take pity on you and invite you to their house often. Be careful, not a word to anyone.’
‘They have invited me for breakfast now.’
‘Good. Wonder what they are having, I am starving.’
‘They said idli.’
‘Great, you should try smuggling out a few idlis. I can have them with avakaaya. Be careful, they should not suspect a thing, now hurry up.’
‘I urgently need some coffee first.’
‘Sorry, I forgot you just woke up. I will make some filter coffee for us.’
#
‘Profesor Subbaiah! I got your idlis.’
‘Good, don't shout, the neighbors will hear,’ Subbaiah emerged from the bathroom after a quiet bucket-bath. ‘Make sure the front door is locked from inside, and draw all the curtains.’
‘I have taken care sir.’
‘I am starving,’ he said, grabbing the small plastic container from Moon's hand. ‘How did you get this container? Didn’t they notice?’
‘It belongs to them. They offered me more idlis and chutney for my lunch.’
‘Oh, then I better eat something else outside.’
‘No sir, I cannot eat the same food for lunch again. I can make some noodle soup later.’
‘Thanks. So what did Ganapathy say?’
‘He kept saying that he is worried for you and inquired your whereabouts.’
‘What did you tell him?’
I said you may have gone to Hyderabad to be with Madam.’
‘Fantastic, that should put him off my scent. I will have breakfast and head out, be careful, the police might make one more round again.’
‘Not to worry, I can read some of your books on the verandah. It is best to be in plain sight of the neighbors, so they do not suspect anything.’
‘That is a smart move,’ Subbaiah said, placing the idlis and chutney on his plate and taking small bites.
‘Sir, what will you do?’
‘I have to attend a few meetings and organize more protests. Our only worry is the Indian army. Although the soldiers are a bit demoralized after the war with China, they are very tough and disciplined. It will not be possible for us to break through them.’
‘Sir, aren't there many officers and soldiers from the South in the army?’
‘They form only around 20 percent of the total strength of the Indian military. No wait... they form a majority in the Madras Regiment which has been deployed here.’
‘If the people are protesting peacefully then will these soldiers fire on them unprovoked?’
‘They are trained to take orders. If Anna can have a secret meeting with South Indian officers of the Madras Regiment, maybe they will change their mind. Your questions sometimes give very good ideas!’
‘If the army joins the people then the Prime Minister cannot do anything.’
‘That is right, but the Indian army consists of many regiments, and the others will not be sympathetic to our cause. She can always send regiments from different parts of the country for duty here.’
‘Won't that take time?’
‘Yes, it will. I will propose this plan to my party,’ he said, placing the plate in the kitchen sink and washing his hands. ‘Moon, keep a watch out from the front window while I slip away from the back.’
As Moon peeped through the curtains and gave the all-clear signal, Subbaiah wrapped a towel around his face and slipped out through the back.