A dangerous mission

With baba ill, would Manda be able to carry the secret message through to the rebels?

Pune, 1942

Manda’s father shivered violently as he tried to get up. His high fever had made him delirious. He groaned and muttered, “How? How? Who? I must go myself...”

Manda’s mother restrained him, saying, “Don’t worry, I know how to do it.” Ai then called out, “Manda, come here, child. You know Baba is involved in our freedom movement?”

Ten-year-old Manda nodded vigorously, her long plaits moving jauntily. Despite her limp, she was bright and happy-go-lucky. In school, when some children teased her about her limp, she would reply defiantly. Others ignored it and accepted it. They played together or did things like climbing trees. Sometimes, at home, she would cry because of the teasing. But her mother would say firmly, “Be angry if you want! But no crying! You can do anything you want.”

Now Aai explained. “You know Pandit Kaka’s house. Take this note to him. It is urgent, and dangerous, as it has names that the British want. But you mustn’t be caught with it. So this is what I will do.’

Baba was a Sanskrit professor and taught in the same college as Pandit Kaka.

Manda laughed, brown eyes sparkling, as Ai took her long black plaits and wound one round her head. She then inserted a tiny black pouch with the dangerous note into her hair and covered it with the other plait. Then she secured it tightly with hairpins. Next, Ai covered the plaits with a jasmine garland. Manda giggled. This was a great way to outwit the police who worked under the British! The note was safe! No one would suspect a little girl of carrying secret information.