After the Jeep carrying the visitor left, Ram Mohan said, “Let me talk to this stupid man.” They all quickly walked to Kalla Dada’s house. The number of people waiting for Ram Mohan there had increased, all keen to hear about the election campaign; a tumult of murmur swept through the crowd as he approached; those sitting scrambled to their feet.
Padhaiya Bhaiya had left, again a gesture to convey his independence of Ram Mohan. Gulab Singh sent for him. His man who had found him at his oil mill returned and whispered Padhaiya Bhaiya’s words into Gulab Singh’s ear, “I’m not like your Thakur, the bootlicker. Whoever wants to see me should come here.” Gulab Singh looked at Ram Mohan who shrugged and said, “I leave it to you. Do whatever needs to be done.” Gulab Singh sent his men, three of them, to bring him, “Don’t say a word to him. Let your well-seasoned lathis do the talking.”
Deena, who had up till then been watching from a distance, rushed in to…