Srinagar, June 17 -- It's hard to describe someone who felt like the heart of every room.

But I have to try, even as my hands tremble and my throat tightens. Because when someone like Agha Sajad Ali Qazalbash leaves, it isn't just a death. It's a break in the rhythm of life.

We called him Sajad Mamu. He wasn't just my uncle. He was my friend, the one I looked for in every gathering.

And now I look, and he's not there.

He passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025, after a sudden head injury. That's the fact of it. But the truth of his life is far deeper than the moment it ended.

Born in Alamgari Bazar, he lived in Lal Bazar, in a home that never felt cold. His laughter echoed through the narrow lanes of our neighbourhood. He didn't need to...