Nisha
Why is cooking so meaningful to Nisha?
Cooking calms Nisha and makes her feel close to her family members. It is when she is working in the kitchen that she makes connections with Kazi and Rashid Uncle.
What does Amil love to do most? Why?
Amil loves to draw. It may be his escape from schoolwork—it shows he is good at something. It is also a way that he expresses himself. He is an artist like his mother.
Why were Papa’s and Mama’s families unhappy with their marriage?
Papa was Hindu and Mama was Muslim. Mixed marriages were not accepted.
Why were there two paths of people walking in opposite directions?
Because of the partition, Muslims who lived in what was to remain India were leaving to go to what was to become Pakistan. At the same time, the Hindus who lived in what would become Pakistan were moving to what would remain India.
What was Rashid Uncle's problem?
He had a cleft palate and couldn't speak.
Why does Kazi give Nisha a journal and Amil some charcoal pencils for their birthday?
He knows there is going to be a lot going on in the world, and he knows the adults won’t have time to record this historical moment. He wants the kids to write about it and draw it as it happens.
How does Amil react to Nisha's friendship with Hafa?
At first, he warns Nisha about the danger. Then he enjoys her companionship.
Why is Papa always so angry at Amil?
He feels that Amil isn’t trying to do well at school. Amil is always laughing, drawing, and playing. Papa is a single father who works hard every day as a doctor. He has no tolerance for his son who is nothing like him.
What is significant about the people in the wooden hut letting Papa and the family take shelter?
The people were Muslim and were also being forced to move just like Papa’s family. Unlike what happened at the train station, these people were compassionate even though they had different religious beliefs. It shows how not all people lose their humanity during desperate times.
How did Nisha feel about Rashid Uncle's house?
She liked it because it made her feel closer to her mother.
Nisha writes, “...whispering gets people’s attention even better than being loud.” How is this statement ironic?
Nisha has noticed that when you whisper, people will actually listen more closely (perhaps because it is harder to hear). Being heard more while whispering is the opposite of what should happen.
Why does Amil burn his drawings?
He is very angry at the situation. He feels that the house may be burned down, and his drawings with it, and if so, he wants to take control and to watch them be burned.
Who caused the jugs to spill and the family to lose some of their water? Who is at fault?
It is Amil’s fault because he tried to lift too much. He never pays attention to details like placing the caps on tightly.
It was Papa’s fault because he made Amil carry Dadi’s things as well as his own. Amil was small and thin and was too weak to do it.
Nisha creates a unique prayer that combines what she has heard from Kazi(Muslim) and what she has heard from Dadi (Hindu). What might the new prayer symbolize?
The prayer could symbolize Nisha herself, who has a Muslim mother and a Hindu father. She is also now seeing and hearing her Muslim uncle and her Hindu grandmother.
No one wins if we take revenge on those who hurt us.
Why does Nisha stop talking at Rashid Uncle's house?
After Papa discovers Nisha has been talking to Hafa he says, "... maybe we're all better off when you keep your mouth shut.
How does Amil try to protect his sister against the attacker?
He tells him that his father and uncle are coming and they have a gun so the attacker feels a little 'frightened'.
What were the two sides of Papa? Give one example for each side.
When he was a doctor he showed kindness and empathy. At home, he was more stern with his children and showed his love in this way.
Example: He took care of the injured man at the well.
He wanted Amil to follow in his footsteps and become a doctor or someone important. He yelled at Amil, thinking he could encourage him to study and work harder.
Why does Kazi give his mortar and pestle to Nisha before the journey?
He is giving his most important cooking tool to Nisha to try to encourage her to continue to do the thing she loves most (cook) even when he is not with her. The mortar and pestle could also be a symbol of her time with Kazi in the kitchen.
Why did Nisha wave at the girl if it meant that her family might be put in danger?
She is frustrated that no one is telling her what is going on. They hide the newspapers and Rashid Uncle doesn’t talk. She desperately needs a friend.
Nisha writes, “I didn’t know we were so rich until we became poor.” What does this mean?
Nisha has come to realize that wealth is not about having a big house; it is about having a loving family and a safe place to live. They lost their home during the crisis, but she learned that her mother, Rashid Uncle, and her father all loved her.
What was the result of water spilling from the jugs when Amil dropped them?
He nearly died from dehydration.
What does Papa give Nisha on every birthday since she was 7 years old? How does she feel about these gifts?
Papa gives her jewelry for each birthday. It makes her feel closer to her mother.
Why did they need to leave Rashid Uncle's house in the early morning?
They left in the early morning without saying good bye because Papa thought they might put Rashid Uncle in danger if anyone discovered that Muslims were staying at his house.
Nisha has always had a difficult time making friends.
Why doesn’t Nisha have trouble talking to Hafa?
Being in her mother’s home and living through a dangerous journey has made her realize that she doesn't want to waste any opportunity to make a friend.