Chapter 2
The house of cards on his desk wobbled. Atharva eyed them, wincing inside as the fan for the shooting lights was turned on. The cards flopped down, the roof now nothing but street.
“I’m sorry, Janab…” the lightman rushed to tamp the cards down from flying.
“No problem,” Atharva smiled, holding his chin up as they fixed a mic on his collar.
“Looking at alternate career options?” Toru’s amused question made his eyes snap up at her.
She was sitting across from him, sent in place of the senior journalist who was supposed to conduct this interview from her channel.
Atharva had kept his distance from her after the London interview, where she had bulldozed her way to blindside Iram.
He held his smile — “Always good to have diverse skills in your kitty.”
“You sing, you fight, you dance, you are a pro at cards,” she counted on her fingers. “Bollywood would love you.”
“I also happen to have a decent mugshot,” Atharva smirked as a makeup artist blotted a cool tissue over his brow.
“Clear,” the director yelled, and his home office suddenly plunged into a pin-drop silence as everybody moved away, leaving only him and Toru in the frame.
His couch had become his seat, and an armchair had been arranged for Toru.
In a a pair of maroon suit-pants, her short hair in place, her dusky skin glowing and eyes rimmed in dark kohl, she looked as sharp as ever.
She nodded at him in inquiry, he nodded back.
After a number of interviews, they had this pre-rolling routine down pat.
Atharva sat back, tired and sleepy after his long week, waiting for Toru to run her introduction of him as usual.
It was ridden with praises like the last few times but ended with questions on the shortcomings of his government lately, as he had expected. Toru Ray did not mince her words.
“Two years to your accession to the CM’s chair, Mr. Kaul, what has the experience been like?
” She turned to him, papers in hand. This time, Amaal had tightened the cogs for her channel, so much so that Amaal wasn’t even here to check if things were going smoothly.
Atharva didn’t know what the threats were after that London interview, but he could see that the entire team was on edge. Even Toru.
“It’s been 28 months of intense growth. For the state as well as for me.
We have covered 78% of electrification across the state, potable flowing tap water is not a seasonal commodity anymore and educational institutes are growing at par with the speed of roads we are building.
And that’s higher than the average benchmark for the top 5 states in India currently.
MSMEs and small-scale industries have seen a turnaround in growth.
From depletion of opportunities, they are seeing an upward trajectory.
And just last year, we recorded our highest ever tourism footfall — 2.
11 crore tourists. I would say, so far so good. ”
“The valley is not as safe today as it was last year, especially not on certain days of the week. In only the last week, Kashmir has seen a 68% decline in tourism. Curfews have now been lifted but they were in place all through the beginning of October. The young Haq Force leader — Usama Aziz’s death has sparked something that your government has failed to control. Would you still say so far so good?”
“Usama Aziz’s encounter was a routine anti-terrorism exercise. Their strategically placed sleeper cells have rallied day and night to disrupt the upward-looking state. They have failed to succeed so far, and until Kashmiris stand tall, they will keep failing.”
“And still the stone pelting and protests do not seem to die down.”
“Your question is?”
Toru’s gumption was low, simmering instead of boiling.
“My question is — how can you say that the Haq Force has failed when the death of their young leader has led to an emotional current across Kashmir. Stone pelting and violent protests have been erupting regularly in most areas…”
“Name ‘most areas’ and define ‘regularly.’”
Her gumption went quieter but she held her voice steady, sticking to her questions. Atharva knew them, but he wasn’t in the mood to duck them, even though he had to keep his persona steady for his upcoming trip.
“There is Harnag and Qazikund in Anantnag, Kokernag, Kulgam, Shopian and Srinagar, to name a few.”
“From ‘most’ areas, you have come down to six, ma’am. There is the answer for you.”
“But you cannot deny that there have been injuries, serious ones due to the use of pellet guns by the Indian forces. Children and women have been injured.”
“How many children and how many women, Ms. Ray?”
This time, she did not even blink — “As per the latest report from this morning — 17 children and 25 women. Half of them have been discharged but they were serious enough to be admitted to the hospital.”
“And did the report state what the causes of their injuries were?”
Her mouth snapped shut.
“Stones,” Atharva declared. The questions Amaal had planted in her list were meant to paint a demonic picture of the Kashmiri government, take the stand of every anti-Atharva Kaul narrative so that he could set some records straight.
Unknowingly, Toru had walked into that trap and levelled his playing field.
He did not feel even a little bad about destroying her on national TV.
She had used Iram enough for this to be payback.
“If women and children were injured due to stones, falling down the road and stampedes — where do you think the stones came from?”
“If that is the case, then why are the people of Kashmir suddenly burning with a sentiment of reticence for you?”
“I do not believe that is true. But if, at all, a fraction of that is, I would like to tell them and your viewers through this interview to google Waris Khan for me, then google Ansari, the head of Haq Force. Waris Khan’s son is a practicing doctor, settled happily with his family in London.
Ansari’s daughter is an IT engineer and his two sons are practicing lawyers with the American Bar Council, both far away from his so-called ‘freedom struggle.’ They are all safely working abroad.
So tell me then, is their cause only for others’ children? Is it only for Aziz’s son Usama?”
“What will your government’s stance be in the future with regard to these militant groups? Do we see a solution in sight? Negotiation? Talks?"
“Until these groups do not stop spreading terror and unrest in my state, there is no question of talks.”
“And the Indian army?”
“What about it?”
“Will they take over Kashmir? There are rumours of a Presidential rule…”
“They are exactly that. Rumours.”
“This must hit too close to home, the devolving state of affairs in Kashmir. I remember you and your wife talking about your childhood growing up here, in such dire circumstances.”
Atharva swallowed but did not let his voice tremble — “We grew, Kashmir grew, and today it knows better. We are not going back there.”
Toru smiled. “That’s hopeful, coming from you. Now, moving to the most controversial of all topics. Your upcoming trip to PoK.”
Atharva gave a tight smile.
“Your ally, Yogesh Patel says that he or Janta Party does not endorse your trip but will not break the alliance either, as they have Kashmir’s best interests at heart.
The SSF and BSF joint press statement snubbed you for your announcement, while Momina Aslam has called you anti-national.
What does the world look like from your side right now? ”
“Yogeshji may have his perspective, and I completely understand where he is coming from. We have both, in our individual as well as allied capacity, worked out Jammu & Kashmir’s wider interest. As for the SSF and BSF chiefs, I understand their stands too.
They come from a purely military standpoint, where the enemy is the enemy and there is no grey area.
I was in their place once. That compartmentalisation of enemy and fraternity was at the core of my understanding of the world.
But now I have to stand on a pedestal that represents the people.
I cannot think like a military man. I don’t have that privilege anymore.
I am going to PoK on the invitation of a university that traces its history back to the Jamwal Dynasty, on a tour to talk about the roots of an average Kashmiri. ”
“An interesting argument, if I ever heard one,” Toru rallied with a wry quirk to her mouth. “But you did not answer my question completely. About Momina Aslam’s comment, that you are…”
“An anti-national? I do not dignify such comments with an answer.”
“Well, on that note, I will wind up this interview. Would you like to say something to end this chat?”
“Kashmiris chose their khudgarzi two years ago, and it has set us on a path of bright, exponential growth and unprecedented development. When you start climbing a ladder, those threatened by you will try to pull your foot down. Hold your own, and keep climbing. My Kashmiris know that. They will keep climbing higher, unbothered by these grabbing hands.”
“I look forward to seeing Jammu & Kashmir return to peace under your leadership. Thank you for speaking to us.” Toru turned to the camera.
“That was the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir from his home office in Srinagar, standing solid in the face of this crisis and being the beacon of hope every Indian, every Kashmiri needs right now.”
“Cut.”
Toru got to her feet, reaching for her mic.
Atharva sat still, looking quietly into his phone that had buzzed throughout the interview.
Nothing alarming, just routine. He kept scrolling until he felt a heated gaze on his forehead.
He glanced up, and Toru Ray was standing there on his head, her face a mix of anger and sorrow. He frowned, pushing to his feet.
“Thank you for the interview,” he smiled. “We’ve arranged high tea for you and your team. I need to rush, but please take your time winding up.”