A disciple escorted Than Kin to the priest and asked him to sit next to him. Even though Win Thura's eyes were closed, he sensed a presence very close to him. Eventually upon opening his eyes when he found Than Kin sitting next to him, the priest welcomed him with a generous smile. He beckoned a disciple to come to him. Then he stood up to accompany his guest to his private chamber after handing over to the disciple the responsibility of distributing rice to his other disciples.

In his chamber Win Thura requested his guest to wait for a few minutes and then went to the monastery kitchen to arrange a meal for the guest. After ten minutes had passed like this, Than Kin got hold of the priest. The priest was followed by one of his disciples who had the special meal for the guest neatly arranged on a tray. Having the tray in a corner of the table, one at a time, before the guest, the disciple served each item on the table and then left the chamber. Buddhist priests usually refrained from talking during mealtime. When they were done taking their meal, their private discussion began. From Win Thura’s look Than Kin sensed the curiosity in him. Than Kin noticed a black mark on Win Thura’s right hand and said, “Saved by the grace of the enlightened one! I was very anxious about you. How do you feel now?”

“I’m, as I’ve always been. I don’t see any reason to be worried. Now tell me how the situation in Rakhain is.”

“Before we start talking about the situation in Rakhain, I would like to get a hint of who might be responsible for attacking you.”

The host remained quiet for a few seconds, and then said, “There are quite a few names in the list of the suspects. Whose name should I mention? If we are to take into consideration the incidents that have taken place recently, we have to point our fingers at the Rohingyas.”

“Everyone has been saying the same thing. No one else has any motive behind this. The assault is undoubtedly driven by vengeance.”

“But do these Rohingyas have the means to travel so far to execute this kind of terror attack? They are not supposed to have any accomplice over here, that’s another factor.”

“Does it mean, some other group is trying to take advantage of the situation?”

With a faint smile Win Thura replied, “It’s a possibility. The Kokang, Kachin, Kuki, none of them are above suspicion. But why are we going to point our fingers at them? Whatever the present circumstances dictate, we have to do just that.”

“Exactly.”

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“Circumstantial evidence is implicating the Rohingyas, so we must say this loudly. We should urge the authority for more effective steps against the Rohingya terror.” As the host paused, with questions in his eyes, Than Kin stared at his mentor for possible explanation as to what he meant by the last part of his statement.

The host stood up from his seat and moved to the window. In the streets below people were rushing to their destinations. Win Thura loved to watch this scene. For a while he gazed at it like a philosopher, and then abruptly said to his guest, “Do you know approximately how many Rohingyas have fled from this country so far?”

“We’ve been hearing from the government of the neighboring country that over three hundred thousand Rohingyas have taken shelter. Some of them have crossed into India as well.”

“In other words, only one fourth of the Rohingya population has been evicted. After all this, only one fourth has been driven out. I feel like something more needs to be done.”

“Do we need another episode like the Hin Kao murder?”

“Something more daring needs to be done!”

“The poor chap we used last time, it will be difficult to find someone like him. To a large extent, the truth behind the last incident has been exposed by the international media. And now we have Brigadier Lee’s daughter expressing her sympathy for the Rohingyas.”

“Why do you address him as Brigadier Lee? Address him as Major General Lee. I can see that you don’t keep yourself well informed. Now tell me what kind of problem is being created by her.”

Having received the news of Lee’s promotion with pleasure, Than Kin said, “So what if her father is a celebrated warrior, it seems to me, his daughter is sympathetic to the enemies of this nation.” Noticing the utter surprise in his host’s expression, Than Kin resumed, “Yep, it may sound absurd, but that’s how I feel about her. Two days earlier, during an interview, she tried to say that we were inciting hatred against the Rohingyas. Where will the Rohingyas go if they are expelled from this land, she is very anxious about it.”

These two monks stared at each other after Than Kin had finished his statement. This silence was then broken by the host who said to his guest, “Have you conveyed this to Lee?”

“This is why I’ve come to you. I’m confused. I don’t know what I should do.”

All this time Win Thura had been standing next to the window, now he took two steps towards his guest. Gently, Win Thura placed his right hand over his guest’s shoulder and in very low voice said to him, “Without any kind of delay, visit Lee and convey this to him. However, when discussing this with him, you must express your sympathy for his daughter. Remember, the target of your suspicion is his only child. In the meantime, I’ll try to organize my part in the play. This way or that way, these Rohingyas must be thrown out of this country.”

The monk who had earlier served the meal was quietly standing behind the door of the chamber. He didn’t waste time in recording their conversation in his smart phone. This monk had faithfully served Win Thura for a number of years, but Win Thura didn’t know who he really was. The next day, the young monk said to Win Thura, he had to see his parents as they were very old and sick. Hence, the monk got his mentor’s approval for a short leave from the monastery.