Chapter 12: The Jail

Haleema, who is still deeply affected by her family's troubles, faces a surprise visit from Izhar, a BBC journalist. Izhar informs her that his acquaintance in the police mentioned seeing a young inmate named Imran at the Central Jail. This news reignites Haleema's hope, and Izhar advises her to check for Imran's whereabouts and provide a contact number. At the Central Jail, Haleema meets a munshi who confirms that Imran had been there recently but may have been transferred to another location, possibly Udhampur or Tihar. He suggests checking other jails and obtaining confirmation letters from those where Imran isn’t found. With this information, Haleema teams up with Shafiqa and her husband Muhammad Rafiq to travel to Tihar, where prisoners are often transferred. She packs essentials for the journey and is startled to see her estranged husband in poor health but chooses not to approach him. During their journey, Haleema and her companions encounter various obstacles, including a delayed departure and a problematic check at the Banihal tunnel. They witness a traffic accident and reflect on their journey's purpose.

In Udhampur, they arrive at the jail only to find it closed for visits. They spend the night in a shabby hotel and return the next day. The guard at Udhampur jail initially denies them entry, citing restrictions on Kashmiri visitors but eventually allows them in after receiving a bribe of almonds. Inside the jail, Haleema, Shafiqa, and Rafiq climb a winding path to the barracks, where they hope to find Imran. The jail, surrounded by steep ridges and dense forests, appears impenetrable, emphasizing the challenges of their search. The narrative follows Haleema, Rafiq, and Shafiqa on their quest to find Imran, Haleema's missing son. Their journey begins with visits to various jails, including the Central Jail in Heera Nagar and Kuthua Jail, but they find no trace of Imran. They then travel to Delhi, where they encounter difficulties securing accommodation and making phone calls, reflecting the tense atmosphere of their search.

They finally manage to rent a flat in Azadpur, though it's in poor condition. Their next stop is Tihar Jail, where they navigate bureaucratic hurdles and uncomfortable conditions. They are given visitor passes and taken to a meeting room separated by a glass wall. Inside, they meet Shaheen, who is incarcerated in Tihar. The encounter is emotionally charged, with Rafiq and Shafiqa weeping and trying to communicate through the glass. Shaheen, however, has no knowledge of Imran's whereabouts and insists he would not be an inmate there. The story concludes with the family returning to their flat under the oppressive Delhi heat, their hope diminished but not entirely lost. The narrative captures their exhaustion, despair, and the harsh realities they face in their search for Imran.