“People as fortunate as you keep track of people like us, I find it amazing.”

“I keep track of them because I’m a Rohingya myself. The only Muslim parliamentarian in Myanmar was my relative. Of course, you know that he was killed. Though he was killed only a few years ago, for decades, he had been facing tremendous amount of psychological pressure. Twenty years earlier I speculated that he could be killed. In a country where even an elected representative is not given the status or recognition of a citizen, how could we imagine democracy and human rights in that kind of country? Tactfully they have changed Burma’s name to Myanmar. Arakan’s name has been changed to Rakhain. When they changed the name of the country we didn’t object. But those Burmese have no right to change the name of Arakan. In Arakan, the Burmese are outsiders. Now they claim, we’re the outsiders, and they’re the native inhabitants. Since 1947, these Burmese have been conspiring to throw us out of our motherland. All over the globe, now that there’s a drive against the Muslims, they are taking advantage of the situation and trying to expel us from Arakan. Since we are Muslims, no one is going to come to assist us. I think this is their expectation.” After a brief pause, Solimulla resumed what he had been saying. He said, “At the beginning of the 90’s, I decided to leave the country because I knew the situation would come to this. Now tell me, how’s your family in Arakan?”

Rafiq lowered his gaze. He pondered how he should start. A few seconds passed like this, and then he raised his head, and calmly said, “So far, my family has remained safe.”

Solimulla appeared a bit surprised. He said, “It seems like your family has been very lucky. By the way, what’s your relation with Anis Mollah?”

Having understood the implication of this question, Rafiq replied, “When I said ‘my family’ I meant my father’s family. Anis Mollah was my uncle.”

Quietly they looked at each other for a couple of seconds. To make himself relevant, Qadir said, “I’ve seen the video of that killing. It was a horrible situation over there, no doubt about it.”

Solimulla cleared his throat, and said, “From Myanmar we have news of two more genocides. One took place at Tha Yet Chaung, another one at Aung Syke. So far, the news of it could not be independently verified. But I think it is true. These genocides have really taken place. Under operation ‘Blood Red Greetings’ many such incidents will occur. At Tha Yet Chaung, twelve Rohingya peasants were picked up from their fields and all of them have disappeared since then. We’re being told that they were the members of ARSA. On the other side, in Aung Syke, around hundred and thirty Rohingya men were killed with machine gun and grenades. Those men were accused of inciting violence. However, a man who fled from the scene reported that their homes were under siege by angry mobs who were being tacitly supported by the security forces. This man has used recorded images of the incident as evidence.”

Solimulla clenched his two hands together and put it under his chin. A pause for a couple of seconds preceded, before he added, “Whatever the fascist state of Burma claims, it doesn’t matter. We know that the reports of the genocides were not false. Now the question is, what should we do? Should we ask for help from the UN? Or should we raise our voices to join with Bangladesh? Or should we go for independence?”

Rafiq said, “It will be of no use asking for help from the UN because it has become a rubber stamp organization.”

Solimulla said, “Yes. That is in fact the case. However, you sound like it has become so recently. The fact is, since its birth it has been like that. It was created in such a way so that it won’t come to any use if the perpetrator is one of the big powers, or in case, a smaller perpetrator is assisted by those big powers. Whenever Muslims are oppressed or killed, one of the veto yielding superpowers supports that. Consequently, when the UN tries to take steps against it, that superpower uses its veto power to stop it. When that happens, the other superpowers say ‘We have tried our best, but it’s not working’. It is an unholy game.”

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The moment Solimulla stopped, Qadir said, “No one is going to help us with weapons and ammunition even if we are to start a war of independence, so it is bound to fail. But those Burmese won’t face any difficulty getting everything they need from their Russian and Chinese godfathers. Whether the size of Arakan makes it viable as a state that is another factor we must contemplate before jumping onto the band wagon for independence.”

Rafiq could guess what they wanted to say, so he said, “In that case, merging Arakan with Bangladesh, is the only viable option left before us.”

At this point Solimulla interrupted, “Yes, I think that will be the most logical step for us because historically Arakan was part of Bangladesh to begin with. In this situation Bangladesh could use the conflict of interest between China and the US to her advantage. However, whether Bangladesh will allow such a thing to take place is another big question.”

“This is all geo-politics. I simply cannot comprehend what role a simple man like me could play in this kind of situation,” Rafiq remarked with a smile.

Solimulla retorted back, “Even an ordinary man like you can play a significant role in our fight against the existing systematic oppression which prevails in the world we live in.”

“It would be great if you could clarify what you actually mean, I’m rather confused.”

“I’ve heard that one of the two generals who are at the forefront of Operation Blood Red Greetings, he’s your father in law. Is it true?”

“Yes.”

Rafiq wasn’t allowed to finish when Solimulla said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity for us.” Then he looked at Qadir, and said to him, “What do you say, Qadir?”

“Of course. Rafiq, your wife could provide us with sensitive information well ahead of time. This will save many lives.”

“Are you guys telling me to employ my wife as a spy?” Rafiq appeared troubled by the implication.

Solimulla responded swiftly, “Do you have any problem with this?”

At first Rafiq hesitated, and then said, “I think we should consider what Su has to say about this.”

“Of course. Rafiq we have a pretty farfetched plan. We want you and your wife to be part of it. You and your wife will also be handsomely remunerated for your valuable service. Does it sound good to you?”

“I need time to think about it. I’ll let you know after I discuss it with my wife.”

“Okay, you have one week before you let us know.”

After coming out of the office room, in a reassuring tone Qadir said, “You don’t need to be so petrified. After all, we’re not telling you to return to Myanmar.”

“I’ve come from the land of fear. Nothing really frightens me anymore. But I do believe in prudence. I can’t do anything which might put my wife’s life in jeopardy.”

“You worry too much. Like us she was not born in a family with helpless parents. Those few who control the destiny of Myanmar, your father in law is one of them.”

“It’s a gross exaggeration. Su’s father is a high-ranking army officer faithfully serving the interest of those generals who decide everything for Myanmar. Even he cannot protect her, somehow if it leaks out that his beloved daughter is a western spy. Matter of fact, for the sake of his image, he might as well drive her to death.”

“Are those generals of Tatmadaw really like that?”

“Yep, most of the generals of Tatmadaw are like that. Particularly, the ones who are disciples of communism, their barbarity knows no bound. They view an affair with any Rohingya as treason, and of course, there’s only one remedy for it, capital punishment.”

“Listen Rafiq, so what if those villains of Tatmadaw have no humanity in them, we’re not without compassion and humanity. We won’t do a thing which might endanger your spouse’s life.”

“It doesn’t matter which method you choose, in a fascist state, espionage is the most risky venture.”

“Rafiq, no noble endeavor is without risk, be it business or the effort to prevent genocide designed to wipe out a nation from the face of the planet. Now is the time for you to decide what you can do for your helpless nation. John F Kennedy, a great champion of democracy and human rights, once said to his people, ‘Don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’ We know you are not going to disappoint your nation. If you were timid like others, for love you wouldn’t have poked your head into the viper’s nest to begin with.” Qadir presented a faint smile to Rafiq upon saying this.

Rafiq blushed, and struggled to hide his embarrassment. With a calm voice he said, “It’s not right to make fun of people who are helpless. Situation sometimes compels people to do the strangest of things. What you are trying to do could be categorized as an attempt to blackmail psychologically. It’s not right.”

Qadir burst out in laughter. There was a crescent moon in the night sky of Medina at the time. The stars had lost their brilliance due to the abundance of manmade artificial sources of light in the city. The soothing desert draft, the tired expression of Rafiq and Qadir’s eagerness, all converged on a canvass, like the crafty work of an artist. Accompanying Rafiq to his mess door, Qadir turned back and headed for Baitul Omar. The wall clock inside the mosque of the Holy Prophet was showing twelve o’clock, midnight.