Chapter 15: At the Wedding

In this chapter, the newly formed Association of Relatives of the Disappeared Persons (ARDP) decides to seek help from Dr. Aiyaash Mir, the chief minister who has recently returned to power after an eight-year absence. Haleema, along with two other members, Muhammad Yaqoob and Sakeena, visits Izhar for assistance in arranging a meeting with Mir. Izhar informs them that Mir is currently out of the state but offers to arrange a meeting through his secretary. He assures them that they can meet Mir at a wedding he is attending the day after tomorrow. The trio heads to the secretary’s house for the wedding, navigating through tight security and a lavishly decorated venue. The atmosphere at the wedding is starkly different from the struggles of the ARDP members. Haleema, Sakeena, and Yaqoob feel out of place among the opulence and festive air. After some waiting, they are finally ushered into a meeting with Mir, who is surrounded by a team of ministers and bureaucrats.

 

Mir, appearing detached and indifferent, listens to their pleas. Yaqoob asks for help in tracing their missing relatives and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Sakeena emphasizes the need for accountability, while Haleema describes the endless pain of not knowing the fate of their loved ones. Mir responds with a cold pragmatism, suggesting that many missing individuals might have crossed the border and are unlikely to return. He expresses empathy but ultimately offers no concrete help, stating that he can only offer prayers. The chapter ends with Mir preparing to leave, signaling the end of the brief and unsatisfactory meeting.