Chapter 14: The Half Mother

In a courtroom scene, Shakeel, a man in a grey Khan dress with a long jail-grown beard, is testifying. He describes his experience of being tortured by Major Kushwaha after a raid where he and his associate, Imran Bhat, were trying to evade capture. Shakeel was coerced into revealing the whereabouts of another man, Imran Joo, who was subsequently arrested and taken to Badami Bagh. Haleema, who is fighting a legal battle for her missing son, Imran, decides to pursue justice by filing a case against the army. She frequents the court and notices many other people who are also waiting for their loved ones who have disappeared. These individuals and families gather, share their stories, and support each other in their shared ordeal. Haleema proposes the idea of forming a formal association to fight collectively, and the others agree enthusiastically. She suggests the name ‘Association of Relatives of the Disappeared Persons,’ which is accepted by the group. Haleema is chosen as the head of the association due to her experience and initiative. At the Bar, Advocate Farooq Ahmad helps the group to formally register their association. He prepares a list of members, categorizing them based on their relationship to the missing persons. He uses the term ‘Half Widow’ for women whose husbands are missing, indicating their uncertain status. Haleema questions Advocate Farooq about the status of mothers of missing persons, wondering if they should be termed ‘Half Mothers.’ The lawyer is uncertain about this classification and cannot provide a clear answer, leaving Haleema and the others in a state of ambiguity about their status.