Chapter Fifteen SOK

Qassim and the militia women come to take Zunaira, but Musarrat has replaced her in her cell. Atiq is acting very nervous, and Qassim notices a person in his office. Atiq quickly answers that it is his wife, and Qassim understands because his wife wanted to go to the executions as well. He offers to take Atiq's wife for him, and Atiq does not have much of a choice. He asks to speak to her quickly. When he does, he tells Zunaira that they have agreed to free her but that she must go somewhere first. I cannot believe that Zunaira believes him. I would think that she would have noticed a woman being taken away, and surely she would be smart enough to know that the Taliban would not let anyone off the hook that easily, especially not a woman. They go to the executions, and Musarrat is executed. Her last thought is of Atiq and that he will not turn around to see her being killed. After the executions, Atiq waits for Zunaira, but she is no where to be found. He is shocked and even dreams about her being at his home waiting for him. He goes crazy, lifting women's burqas in the streets looking for Zunaira and is killed by angry husbands. I don't understand why Atiq thought Zunaira would wait for him or come with him. He did not tell her the sacrifice his wife made for her, he simply told her that she was free to go. How did he think that that meant they would spend all eternity together? I don't think that he was thinking clearly. It is really sad how he went crazy on the streets looking for Zunaira. While that is not the man he was, I think it is better that he died in the search for love than in the fulfillment of evil. I would much rather die going crazy in a search for love than die going crazy in a loveless and lifeless world. I think Atiq would have felt the same way.