Page 140 - Train to Pakistan

angry with me, but it is not my fault,’ he continued. ‘I have my duty to do. You
as an educated man know what would happen if I were to treat people
differently.’
The constable brought a chair for Iqbal.

‘Do sit down. Shall I get you a cup of tea or something before you go?’ The
subinspector smiled unctuously.

‘It is very kind of you. I would rather keep standing; I have been sitting in the
cell all these days. If you do not mind, I would like to leave as soon as you have
finished with the formalities,’ answered Iqbal without responding to the other’s
smile.

‘You are free to go whenever and wherever you want to go. I have sent for a
tonga to take you to Mano Majra. I will send an armed constable to accompany

you. It is not safe to be about in Chundunnugger or to travel unescorted.’
The subinspector picked up a yellow paper and read: ‘Juggut Singh, son of
Alam Singh, age twenty-four, caste Sikh of village Mano Majra, badmash

number ten.’
‘Yes, sir,’ interrupted Jugga, smiling. The treatment he had received from the
police had not made any difference to him. His equation with authority was

simple: he was on the other side. Personalities did not come into it.
Subinspectors and policemen were people in khaki who frequently arrested him,
always abused him, and sometimes beat him. Since they abused and beat him

without anger or hate, they were not human beings with names. They were only
denominations one tried to get the better of. If one failed, it was just bad luck.
‘You are being released, but you must appear before Mr Hukum Chand,

Deputy Commissioner, on the first of October 1947, at ten a.m. Put your thumb
impression on this.’
The subinspector opened a flat tin box with a black gauze padding inside it.

He caught Juggut Singh’s thumb in his hand, rubbed it on the damp pad and
pressed it on the paper.
‘Have I permission to go?’ asked Jugga.

‘You can go with Babu Sahib in the tonga; otherwise you will not get home
before dark.’ He looked up at Jugga and repeated slowly, ‘You will not find
Mano Majra the same.’

Neither of the men showed any interest in the subinspector’s remark about
Mano Majra. The subinspector spread out another piece of paper and read: ‘Mr