The narrator tells us that he's been waiting for a call from the midnight balloon seller, but he can't make it today because he has to pick up the kids from school. He's also worried about what's going to happen to the balloon, since it's the 100th anniversary of the death of his friend, zain. The narrator explains that after his friend's death, his uncle became obsessed over the balloon seller. His aunt was the one who was allowed to go outside and buy the family's daily needs, but the uncle wouldn't let the kid go inside. The uncle's aunt says that the doctor came to the house and told the uncle that he has schizophrenia and paranoia.