Translated into English by Saravanan Karmegam
Chapter 26: Mukhtar
Belawan harbour remained calm
without much of bustle. Other than Japanese men, only a handful of collies
from Java were seen loitering. The Chinese men who used to be extremely busy
with their blue attire and dangling iron hooks in their waist were not seen
anywhere around. Two small ships were anchored along the bridge. Dim
silhouette of a ship, likely to be a cruiser, was seen static at a distance.
Wooden ships with their sails were swinging in their anchors at the river
estuary in the west.
The bus which was on its way to
Medan city halted in front of Railway Station. People got into it. On the right
was the row of Malay women’s ‘Pechanga Reng’ shops. The coolies were sitting
on floor and eating. The bus was trudging with a cracking sound of a big sized
tin box spitting out dark kerosene smoke. Among the passengers were there five
Tamil men working in the tea estates. The one who was sitting just opposite to
Natarajan looked up to Pandian’s face frequently, looking visibly apprehensive
as to have seen Pandian earlier and was biting his nails probably with the
doubt whether his apprehension was correct.
The bus went past coconut groves,
banana orchards, and Nippa bushes. The aroma of human presence stemming from
the marshy land lying behind those groves was strong enough to pierce one’s
nostrils. It was Labuvan village. The Chettiar’s business centres were first
established in that village before they shifted their business bases to Medan
city. Pulupiraiyan, Kulukur villages and a slaughter house on left with its
foul, and vile odour in the air- Ketri Kadankiyan, who was notoriously popular
among pawn shoppers of Moski Straat for his typical ways of convincing them
with his excuses in getting his interest payment postponed for the debts he
borrowed, was working in that area before war started. On the right, there ran
a road leading to a camp where the Prisoners of war were kept- The border of
Medan city- Peppeyam petro pump stood with a barren look. The bus stopped at
Post office, Tana Labang, and railway station. They engaged two chariots and
drove to Pandung hotel.
Pandian went out of the hotel in
the afternoon, and met Chinan singh, the local Chairman of Indian Independence
Association, Secretary Sablani, and Special agent Rajalingam. Then he walked a
brief distance in Jalan Raja and called out to a ‘Sado’ chariot and instructed
the driver to go to Kempongdara. The cart ran smoothly on the road which hadn’t
still lost its shiny surface. The streets seemed to have lost its sheen. One
could find only people with torn shirts, pants, lower garments everywhere. Not
a single car was found on streets. The movement of Japanese men was very scanty
than expected. An old Japanese army officer was on his way on his bicycle. His
presence didn’t intimidate anyone. No one took notice of him either. What a
transformative change! ‘Mice will get bold if tigers fall sick’.
“Stop here”
He got out of the vehicle, gave
the driver money and walked on.
Athappu’s house in the middle of
banana grove was found open. The person sitting on a waist high three legged
bamboo stool in front of it, drinking coffee threw a stern look at Pandian.
“Hello…Mukhtar…do you identify
me? Pawn shop Pandian”
“Aaa…aa sir…clerk sir.
Welcome…welcome…”
Muthu alias Mukhtar rose from his
seat and greeted Pandian in chaste Malay with his gleeful face and wide open
hands. “Welcomes sir…Welcome. Let your visit be a memorable one. Please have a
seat. You have got a bit fat. Your face has also changed.”
Pandian gestured towards the back
yard and bobbed his head as if enquiring something, and sat on a stool kept
along the wall facing street.
“They have gone out and will be
back late” Mukhtar said and sat down.
“My new name is Kanthapillai
Arulambalam, an officer in the Head Quarters of Indian Independence
Association”
“When did you come, sir?”
“Friday. Did you hear my name
properly?”
“Kantpiley Arulambalaam”
Mukhtar told, scratching his head faking a smile in eyes. He was one of the tax
collectors who used to arrange coolies for contractors and a well-known
delinquents around Medan city areas. He was a half-Tamil due to his mixed
parentage with his father, a Tamil man.
“I hope you keep fine, Mukhtar?”
“I am fine. Everything is fine
sir”
He went in and brought a washed
porcelain cup, kept it on the table and poured some coffee from the jug and
extended it to Pandian.
“Have it sir”
“Thank you” Pandian drank it.
Pandian explained methodically the
purpose of his visit to Sumathra as he was closely studying Mukhtar’s mind
through his changing facial expressions. He then took out a small note book
from his pant pocket, opened its cover and gently pulled out a paper sticking
to its rear side with his nails. The picture of the Japanese army officer was
kept upside down. He gave it to Mukhtar.
“Here he is. Have a good look of
it”
Mukhtar got it in his left hand,
briefly browsed it with an indifferent glance and returned it to Pandian who in
turn burnt it fully in fire, crushed its ash under his heavy boots and blew it
off with his mouth from the floor.
“He is in Medan” He closed his
eyes, wrinkled his forehead and leaned his head backward.
He then took a two full stacks of
currency notes from his inner shirt pocket and threw it on the table with a
mild thud.
“Mukhtar, it is my humble gift
for you”
“Thank you sir”
He went in, inserting those
currency note stacks in his waist belt, and brought a big liquor bottle and two
glasses. Sitting comfortably, he opened its lid with a graceful turn, filled
the glasses with liquor and closed it.
“Have it sir”
“Thank you”
Pandian brought the glass near
his mouth. The sharp stench pierced his nostrils and had its way up to his
brain. ‘What a fucking stuff! No point in refusing it anyway.’ He drank
it.
Mukhtar emptied the whole glass in
a single attempt and kept the empty glass on the table. His eyes shrunk,
narrowed its lids, and there spread a grin of super confidence across his face
as if the entire world was not worth of a dust for him.
“I am thinking Sir…I am
thinking”- Mukhtar said as he his right pointing finger was tapping his forehead.
“I am thinking sir”
“Yeah…it is an important matter
that needs a well-planned execution”
Pandian lit a cigarette. He felt
his senses going awry. The liquor seemed extremely heavy. It would be dangerous
if doses got more.
“Sir, please have it more”
Mukhtar tilted the jug and tried filling the glasses.
“No..no…it’s enough” Pandian
covered the glass mouth with his right palm.
Mukhtar raised the liquor bottle
above head as if he had developed a temporary distaste for glasses, tilted his
head a bit backward and poured the fluid directly into his mouth looking up.
Pandian was examining the surrounding with his corner eyes as he was busy smoking
his cigarette.
Mukhtar’s closed eyes opened. Keeping
the bottle on the table, he opened a small palm sized tin casket and took out a
dried leaf and some powder, rolled the leaf into a small tube, stuffed the
powder into it and lit its tip with fire and deeply puffed on. His eyes were
still fixed on the remaining liquor looked dull dark green at the bottom of bottle.
“We can do it sir, we can finish off the job”
“Mm”
“Boleniyave is staying in Dilton sir’s house. Adjacent houses are empty.
Fatima has been visiting him for the last two days”
“The one who was Calcutta Straat. Is that old lady Fatima?”
“Exactly. She is the one. The Japanese army guys don’t prefer young girls.
Do you know why?”
“What is that? Tell me”
“I am only supplying them liquor. Liquor is extremely high in demand and
even Generals don’t get liquor these days. He drinks whole night and bites her
legs like dog”
“Fatima’s legs?”
“Yes sir…hers are very beautiful legs. Her age is visible only above her
neck. No one would identify that if she comes with make-up”
“Mm”
“The shop keeper in Hindu Straat also had something with her….”
“How is the place of execution?”
“Finishing him off is an easy task. The spot doesn’t have its usual robust
security cover. Patrolling is just for the name-sake. But the assignment is
extremely dangerous that one has to mortgage his life to get it executed. After
all it is the Japanese Army”
“The task must be completed at any cost”
“We can complete it. As they are down with defeat, they lack courage and
pride now. Everyone is madly after women and liquor. This issue related to
letter is a new trouble anyway. You may have to involve in this task
personally”
“Yes. It is right”
“Fatima would go there tomorrow too. So, he might be home. Let me get it
confirmed tomorrow with some more enquiry. I have two men from Padang working
there. Let me take them into my confidence.”
“No…Don’t do that”
“They are trustworthy”
“No…not needed.”
“O. K Sir. I have a doubt. I can ask if you don’t take me wrong. Let us
suppose that I work for the Japanese army and inform them about you and this
plan. What’d happen?”
“You don’t have to worry about it. We have made all the necessary
arrangements to deal with such situations”
“Mhh..aa…What arrangements?”
“We have already collected sufficient proofs to prove you are a traitor, a
spy working for the enemy. Those proofs are available in Kempongdara itself.
Any tinge of suspicion on you would be enough to finish you off”
“Spy? I…?”
“Does it matter if you are a spy or something else? No taker. Who will
Captain Kobayashi listen to? Chinan Singh or Kempongdara Mukhtar? You are
already familiar with the Japanese army by frequenting their office. You name
still appears in the list of suspicious men. Apart from this, you supply liquor
and women to Japanese army men. You are aware of the punishment for this crime.
Aren’t you?”
“Hiiiiiii….iii…sir…You aren’t angry, I guess. Are you? I just asked you to
know how alert you are. Please don’t get me wrong. I get into this dangerous
task just for you, your friendship not for money. I can earn more than this in a
matter of seconds”
“Once you return to Singapore after the job is done, I will ensure
arrangements for more money”
“Thank you, Sir. I give a damn to money. All I need is just a friendship.
It is important to me. I can earn money at any time. But it is very difficult
to get friends like you”
“It is alright. Leave it. Can I acquire Tommy guns and grenades?”
“No…not possible”
“Don’t worry about the cost. I can arrange it no matter how much it costs”
“Actually, we can’t buy anything from Japanese soldiers, though we can
sell, that too for the rate they insist”
“Possibility of looting?”
“Impossible. It is possible if we dare killing”
“It is not required. Unnecessary invitation to troubles”
“Yes…we have to manage with the available horse to run the chariot. Or
else…?”
“We better go back to our village. Right?”
“Sir…I hope you aren’t annoyed with it”
“No…never…” Pandian laughed heartily.
“Come at nine tomorrow. We can finalize everything”
“Please be careful no one should know about it”
“It is my responsibility. If you meet anyone unknown when you come here,
just entertain them with cursory enquiries about timber. I do timber business
too”
“I should have better understanding on the locations of bed room, bath
room, bags, places where boxes are kept. Is that O.K? Let me take leave.” He
rose and walked on.
“Thank you, sir. Thank you so much”
Mukhtar followed Pandian, holding one tip of his Lungi that was sliding off
his waist with his left hand, till the entrance of grove to send him off.
Walking towards south, Pandian stopped a ‘Sado’Chariot coming behind and
boarded it. The cart strode with its usual jerks. He stretched out his legs and
leaned back.
Bolenia where the Dutch nobles were once living with clean grass beds,
spotlessly clean streets and well decked houses was now lying dilapidated. The
velvet grass beds that once had the dark green colour of river side seedlings were
now missing. The rows of dandelion plants that used to blossom with flowers
resembling the hue of moon were absent. Only nut grasses grown up to chest
level and thick undergrowth of some unknown wild bushes were seen everywhere.
The chariot took a turn to north from Sultan Mamun Al Rashid Way. It went
past Dilton’s house. Poor fellow! He must be toiling in the prisoner camp.
Quite possible that he may be dead. A silhouette of a Japanese man’s profile
was visible through window. ‘Is it he? Yes. It is he. His green Duror car was
visible. Moris car…adjacent bungalows stood deserted. Wild bushes and creepers
were grown so thick that they stood obstructing the path. ‘Ahh…it was extremely
painful to see the condition of that bungalow where the owner of Havya company
once lived in. Here lay Dilton’s house, a comfortable place to execute the task
discreetly. What about sniffer dogs?’
The chariot turned back and sped away.
When Pandian went next day morning, Mukhtar was drinking liquor facing the
wall.
“Hello, Mukhtar”
Pandian examined that half-Tamil. ‘A drinker left in isolation poses real
danger’
“Hello sir…Please be seated. He dragged a chair and rose.
“Your wife?” Pandian asked, sat by the window.
“I have sent her out” he said.
He emptied the liquor glass he was holding in his hand, went in and brought
another glass, kept it on the table and poured in some liquor from the bottle.
‘Have it sir” he held the glass in front of Pandian.
“Thank you. But I won’t drink in the morning”
“What? You don’t drink in the morning? It is not right…sir…it isn’t right.
You must have a peck of liquor when you see the Sun every morning. You will
never have head ache, fever, pain in hands and legs. What, you think, is the
medicine of white men? It is nothing but this liquor. They just neutralize its
pungency and add some colourants before sending it here. Please have at least
half a glass…Sir”
“No…please”
“It is O.K. mmhhha…Sir, the time isn’t ripe enough. We can’t execute it in
the house. Time is not ripe sir…not ripe”
“Why?”
“He is leaving for Sabang today evening”
“What? How do you know?”
“Fatima told. He had told her not to come tonight. He would inform her when
he would return”
Pandian took out his cigarette box and stretched it to Mukhtar.
“Thank you, Sir. I don’t need it now. I will have a throat ache. I have my
leaf roll and tobacco powder I made”
Mukhtar opened his tin casket, rolled the leaf and stuffed tobacco powder
into it. Pandian was still smoking.
“What else he had told her?”
“He blathered something in Bahasa under inebriation. Vomited whole day and
tortured her biting all over her body. This went on whole three
days…hiiiii…iii….This is the condition of all drunken pigs sir. Almost every
Japanese is drunk these days. Along with their defeat in war, they had lost
their pride too. Ready to go anywhere if offered with liquor, and fornicating
with any woman they happened to meet on their way…hiiiii…iiii” Mukhtar laughed.
He emptied the glass, lit his tobacco roll and deeply puffed out. “phoooooo”
“O.K…then what?”
“No way other than way-laying and finishing him off”
“Motor traffic in the western roads?”
“Roads will be empty after five”
“Men movement?”
“Virtually none. It will be perilous only when seen by the Japanese. Others
pose no danger. So, no worries.”
“Any suitable place?”
“Will be available after a distance of four miles”
“If he escapes?”
“You are aware of Kampong Bishop. Aren’t you? A man called Kalungkichil is
living in a tree-shed in the forest south of town. Do meet him and just tell my
name. Rest will be taken care off”
Pandian took out the cigarette bud from his lips, crushed it in the ash
tray, pulled out another cigarette and lit it. Mukhtar picked a leaf from his
casket and gently rubbed it on his palm to make a new tobacco roll.
“I need three iron rods shielded in rubber. It should be handy”
“You will get it by afternoon in your hotel. But would three sticks be
enough for a tiger hunt Sir?”
Pandian pulled out his pistol from his waist belt.
The half-Tamil was stunned at seeing pistol and swiftly gestured to Pandian
to hide it under his dress immediately.
Pistol disappeared.
“I want to get this task over without much of fanfare”
“You brought it from Singapore? Didn’t they check you in the ship? Are you
the only representative of Indian Independence Association engaged in this
covert action of killing a Japanese army man? You just asked me three simple
rods for such a huge task. Didn’t you?”
“An army has come with me. I have despatched a person up to Kuala Simpong.
But he has been terminated.” He threw a hard punch on the table once, and rose
and bid adieu to Mukhtar.
“Mukhtar. I don’t think that we’ll meet again. Once the job is over, I will
ensure that you’d get more payment”
“Thank you sir. Before leaving, do pray to goddess Mariayammal. It is the
Japanese army you are going to take on. Within a second you intercept, just
shoot him dead. Japanese army….It would be better telling the hotel attendant
that you are going to attend a liquor party and return late”
“O.K Mukhtar”
“O.K Sir. Be safe”
‘You too be safe’
***
Chapter 26: Mukhtar ended.
Note: chapter 27: “Yamasaki “will be published shortly.
