Geography
In what region is Pakistan located?
South Asia
What city does Enaiat arrive in?
Quetta
Why does Enaiat have to work immediately?
To survive
What do crocodiles symbolize in the title?
Hidden dangers
What shocking event happens when Enaiat wakes up?
His mother is gone
What is the name of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan?
The Durand Line
Did Afghan refugees in Pakistan usually have legal citizenship?
No, many lacked citizenship and legal status
What type of economy dominates in refugee communities?
The informal economy
What does the border symbolize?
Separation from his mother, childhood, and identity
What does this moment represent?
Loss of childhood and forced maturity
What major global event made the region more tense in the early 2000s?
The 9/11 attacks
Why is Enaiat especially vulnerable as a refugee?
Because he is undocumented, alone, and a child
Where do refugees usually work?
Markets, construction, workshops, and small businesses
What does having to work at young age symbolize?
Loss of innocence and forced maturity
How does politics become personal in this chapter?
The war forces his mother to leave him, turning political conflict into emotional abandonment
Why were Pakistan’s border regions unstable during this time?
Because they were influenced by armed groups and loosely controlled
What rights were limited for refugees in Pakistan?
Access to education, legal protection, and child protection services
What skills does Enaiat develop to survive economically?
Negotiation, money management, independence, and quick decision-making
Why is Chapter 2 considered a turning point?
Because it marks the beginning of his independence and transformation
How does Enaiat’s personality show resilience?
He stays calm, observes carefully, acts mature, and adapts quickly
How does the political situation in Pakistan directly affect Enaiat’s life?
There is no formal protection system for him, and the state is present but not protective, leaving him vulnerable and alone
Explain why being Hazara made Enaiat’s situation even more difficult.
Because Hazara refugees faced discrimination, and being Afghan already made him seen as “other”
How does working at such a young age symbolize the loss of childhood?
It forces him to prioritize survival over innocence and act like an adult instead of a child
Explain how migration in this chapter represents survival rather than freedom.
Even after escaping Afghanistan, Enaiat is still unsafe, undocumented, and forced to work; migration is not freedom yet, only survival
Explain how Pakistan represents both safety and insecurity at the same time.
It is safer than Afghanistan physically, but he is emotionally alone and legally unprotected