The scent of memories, the presence of a healing touch, may have a strong effect on a sensitive mind. Neelmani, so to say, rekindled the feelings that Dennis had sown in his son. Robin was most definitely veering towards the rising star, Neelmani, who had assumed a permanence in Robin’s firmament.
It was the end of September. The village was agog with preparations for foundation day. All hands were full, guests had been informed, be it Walter Baba or Asma in New Zealand, Jeffrey and Fisher in Australia. Mrs Tomalin had written to Keith as also Mr Robinson had to his brother in England. Robin asked Mr Gibson if Aunty Gibson had been invited. Mr Gibson handed over her address to Robin, saying that it would be wiser if Robin wrote to her, for she would most certainly turn down his invitation. Mandalji, the postmaster, had never dispatched so many letters to places all over the world. In fact, the surprise of surprises came when Mrs Gibson confirmed her participation. She added that this time she would settle her scores with her husband before every one. Mr Gibson smiled and said, ‘That adds one more item to your entertainment programme, an on-the-spot drama entitled Play Without Rehearsal!’
Alice Tomalin was impatient to see her little granddaughter. The only person who didn’t seem happy was Peter, the son of late Mr D’Souza. He was Duti Bhagat’s sidekick and Mr Mendez used to call him the ‘thorn in the rose.’ Peter said, ‘Robin should now be really fighting the elections.’ But such things are common when events get organized. No one attached much importance to such snide remarks.
The foundation day committee decided that it would be wise to approach the Anglo-Indian member of parliament, Major William, in Delhi, Mr Brown, the Anglo-Indian member of legislative assembly in Patna, as well as Mr Alfred Rozario, the principal of Don Bosco school in Patna, and ask them how they could help and support the occasion. So it was decided that Mr Mendez and Robin would visit both Patna and Delhi as soon as possible. Hearing of this plan, Majeed and his wife Sabina came one evening to Queen’s Cottage to request Robin and Mr Mendez to look up their son Gibrail in Tihar Jail and to try and obtain his release. Majeed handed over the legal papers pertaining to his son’s arrest. Robin assured him to do his best.
In Patna, they were received with great warmth by Mr Brown. Mr Brown was happy that such an event was being planned. He immediately sanctioned a sum of three lakh rupees for the restoration of Mr McCluskie’s abandoned house and fountain as well as some of the roads that were in a state of disrepair. He also invited the two to stay with him; then afterwards, they could go and complete whatever else they needed to do. Subsequently, Mr Mendez and Robin went off to meet Mr Alfred Rozario. The two were in luck. They met Mr Rozario, who gave a proposal that left the two astounded. Mr Rozario was beside himself with joy at the idea of the foundation day. He wholly supported Robin’s idea of resurrecting their moribund village. He promised to visit
McCluskieganj at the earliest and finalize the purchase of a plot to build a school. Don Bosco would open a branch in McCluskieganj! It would be a residential school, but the boarding house would not be located in its premises. Instead, Mr Rozario proposed that the Anglo-Indian residents would keep the children as paying guests. That way, they would have a regular income, and the children too would have the advantage of homely environment. Above all, this arrangement would not only be remunerative, but it would also keep loneliness at bay for some of the old people.
Mr Mendez and Robin were totally overwhelmed by Mr Rozario’s support. It was a godsend. Then, when they told Mr Rozario that they were planning to visit Delhi the next day in order to meet Major William, once again Mr Rozario came to their help. ‘I’ll speak to Major William right away and seek an appointment for the two of you. You will have no dearth of funds.’ While bidding goodbye to Robin and Mr Mendez,
Mr Rozario said with hope and encouragement, ‘The problems of the past can all be solved by the present, so once again I wish you both the best for your venture.’
Once on the road, Mr Mendez turned to Robin and said, ‘Mr Brown keeps ill health these days. That is why he has written to the Anglo-Indian Association and told them to recommend the name of Mr Rozario as the next member of legislative Assembly.’
In Delhi too the two were very well received by Mr William who was happy that the Anglo-Indian cause was at last being championed by dynamic people like Robin. He spoke at length on the aspects of developmental work for McCluskieganj. How to create an atmosphere that would render progress possible. Where the new roads would be made? Where would dams and check dams be built and where would deep tube wells be bored. Major William was quite a visionary. The road map of McCluskieganj’s future was clear in his mind. They would have to tap solar power for street lighting, a new drainage system would have to be laid. Nothing escaped his attention. And glory of glories, the adage that it never rains but pours was true of the final stroke that Major William rendered. He ordered for the payment of fifty lakh rupees from his MP fund to the district collector in Ranchi. He said that once he received the utilization certificate, he would send another fifth lakh. Both Mr Mendez and Robin were filled with gratitude. But even while parting, Major William gave a piece of advice, ‘You will have to involve our spread-out community in the functioning of our village. For our dream to be fulfilled, people must connect and show solidarity.’
Robin requested Major William to recommend a lawyer for Gibrail’s case. After listening to the whole story, Major William called up a well-known lawyer in the Delhi High Court by the name of D’Souza. He briefed him on the case. When Mr Mendez and Robin met Mr D’Souza, the latter promised Gibrail’s quick release as there was no strength in the case lodged against him.