Chapter 9: Papa 2

Haleema’s frustrations boil over outside the Senior Superintendent of Police’s (SSP) office. After waiting for hours without being granted an audience, she reaches a breaking point, grabs a guard’s rifle, and threatens to kill herself, screaming for answers about Imran’s whereabouts. The SSP, alarmed by her behavior, pacifies her with a promise that a young boy has been taken to the army hospital and that it might be Imran. He assures her he will arrange a pass for her to visit the hospital.

Haleema’s journey to the army hospital is chilling. As she navigates the hospital, she is horrified by the sights of detainees who have been brutalized by torture. Limbless, nailless, and eyeless boys are chained to iron beds, left to suffer in inhumane conditions. Haleema is overwhelmed by fear, wondering if Imran has undergone similar treatment. Despite her desperate search through the hospital wards, she finds no trace of Imran, and the subedar in charge denies his presence.

As days pass without any news of Imran, Haleema feels time has come to a standstill. Her anguish over Imran’s disappearance consumes her, even dulling the pain of her husband Ab Jaan’s death, which now feels like a distant memory. The chapter captures how one tragedy eclipses another, and Haleema is trapped in a loop of suffering.

Haleema seeks the help of Rafi Bhat, a local politician known for assisting mothers whose sons have been detained. Bhat, however, is depicted as a selfserving and corrupt politician who views these cases as opportunities to secure future votes. Haleema’s visits to his luxurious home, contrasting with her own dilapidated garden, highlight the disparity between the lives of the political elite and the wartorn landscape of Kashmir. Bhat gives her false hope, promising that Imran will be released on Independence Day but eventually makes a demeaning and inappropriate suggestion, insinuating that Haleema should engage with him romantically to expedite her son's release. Despite the insult, Haleema clings to the hope that Bhat’s promise will hold true.

On Independence Day, the army announces it will release boys held on minor charges as part of an ‘Independence Day Gift.’ Haleema prepares for Imran’s return by cooking a thanksgiving meal and setting up a mattress for visitors, but when she goes to the Saddar Police Station to wait for him, she is once again met with disappointment. The police tell her that they have no information about Imran’s release. The SHO, in a rare moment of sympathy, suggests that she visit Papa 2 Interrogation Centre, a notorious detention facility where many detainees are held.

Determined, Haleema makes her way to Papa 2 on Eid, a day of celebration for many, but a day of deep sorrow for her. The chapter vividly describes the oppressive atmosphere of Kashmir, with checkpoints, army convoys, and graffiti calling for freedom (‘Azaadi’) as constant reminders of the conflict. The landscape contrasts sharply with Haleema’s memories of happier times, such as family picnics at Dal Lake, where her son had once been carefree and innocent.

Papa 2, located in a beautiful yet grim area overlooking Dal Lake, was once a stately mansion but has since been converted into a torture center. The location’s scenic beauty is tainted by the horrors it conceals, creating a paradox of beauty and terror.

At the gates of Papa 2, Haleema joins a long queue of relatives hoping to see their detained loved ones. The guards are methodical and strict, searching the bags of relatives and refusing to allow Haleema inside because she has no official confirmation of Imran’s detention. They suggest she wait outside and see if he is among the boys being released for Eid. Haleema spends the day sitting under a poplar tree, staring at the gates, hoping to catch a glimpse of her son. After hours of waiting, a few boys are released, some limping or carried by their relatives, but Imran is not among them. Exhausted and desperate, Haleema begs the guards to let her inside to see for herself, but they refuse her entry. Her pleas are met with cold indifference, and one guard mockingly tells her to return for the next Eid. The gate is slammed shut in her face, leaving Haleema devastated and without answers.