MISSING: A NOVEL by Sumana Roy [Paperback]

Missing weaves a compelling narrative centered around the social and personal crises of a family in contemporary India during the tumultuous summer of 2012. The story begins with a chilling incident in Guwahati, where a young girl is molested in full view of onlookers who choose to film rather than intervene. Amidst the annual floods in Assam, Kobita, a 54-year-old activist, resolves to travel to Guwahati to search for the girl, who has mysteriously disappeared after the assault. As she embarks on her quest, she leaves her blind husband, Nayan, with the troubling task of navigating his dependence on others—especially the carpenter and his family—to keep track of her.

While Nayan faces growing concern as he loses contact with Kobita amidst escalating violence in lower Assam, their son Kabir is in England, focused on his academic pursuits related to Hill Cart Road, a vital connection between Siliguri and Darjeeling. The novel unfolds over seven days, exploring the complexities of modern marriage, the struggles of a woman seeking justice, and the bonds of family, all while echoing the ancient questions of loyalty and loss from the Ramayana: What happens when a wife goes missing?