The Night Diary

Nisha imagines her home in Mirpur Khas inhabited by a new family and envisions the little girl who finds her doll, Dee, and sees it as “the best surprise she ever got” (185).

Nisha does not want to leave Rashid Uncle’s, but must always stay inside, since they are not supposed to be there, and they are beginning to feel trapped. Nisha overhears Papa and Dadi speak of the violence occurring on the trail and on the trains, and Nisha still cannot make sense of the violence.

Nisha regularly assists Rashid Uncle in meal preparation and no one tells her to stop. It is unlike cooking with Kazi because she and Rashid Uncle work in silence. Nisha is desperate to ask questions about Mama, but she can’t get the words out, and he cannot speak. In addition to not being able to speak, Nisha realizes she shares other mannerisms with Rashid Uncle. Nisha takes this to mean that she is more like her mother than she thought.

Dadi is recovering and sits up talking with Papa after dinner while Rashid Uncle carves a small bowl (parallel to Kazi’s mortar/pestle) and a horse. Nisha admires his skill and thinks he has “magical fingers” (190).

From her bedroom window, Nisha sees a little girl playing next door. She watches the girl and thinks they must be about the same age. Nisha wonders why the girl is playing alone and wants to join her, but she can’t.

Nisha does not see the girl and thinks she imagined her. She wants to be friendlier with Rashid Uncle so she can find out more about her mother, but he doesn’t seem to want to be with the family. Instead, he stays out most of the day and does his carvings under a shade tree. Papa and Dadi restrict Nisha’s access to the newspapers, but she’s managed to see a few headlines pertaining to violence, strife, and Gandhi’s fast for peace.

Nisha feels like a prisoner. From the window, she sees the little girl again, and this time, she waves. The girl starts to wave back but then runs inside. Nisha worries she will tell her family and thinks she may have put her family in danger.

Nothing happened as a result of waving to the girl, so Nisha looks for her again. The girl is outside, and when she sees Nisha, she waves before running back inside. Nisha feels “a tingly feeling […] like she had opened a gift covered in shiny English wrapping paper and bows” (197). Amil sees Nisha’s excitement, so she tells Amil about the girl, to which Amil replies, “Brilliant” (198). The British word is an inside joke between them and makes them laugh.

Nisha and Amil write and deliver a note to the girl; she picks it up and comes to their window. She says, “Who are you? Where did the man with the broken face go?” (202). She wants to know if Amil and Nisha are staying, and they tell her they’re just passing through. The girl realizes they are hiding and appears worried. The girl introduces herself as Hafa, and the three of them plot to see each other again. Hafa leaves, and Amil points out that Nisha had spoken aloud to the girl.

Rashid Uncle brings home sweet potatoes—a rare treat—which Nisha is anxious to prepare. After talking to Hafa, Nisha thinks she could be a new, different person, and when Rashid Uncle hands her a knife, she says, “Thank you” (206). Rashid Uncle is surprised to hear her speak. They prepare the meal together and everyone enjoys it. After dinner, they all sit together like they usually do, Dadi and Papa drinking tea and Rashid Uncle carving wood. Nisha takes a deep breath and asks her uncle what he is making. Dadi and Papa both put their papers down, surprised Nisha has spoken. Rashid Uncle writes “a doll” on his chalkboard. He looks at Nisha and writes that she has her mother’s mouth. He writes to Amil that he has Mama’s eyes and that “it makes [him] so happy to see [their] faces” (207). Rashid Uncle then writes: “She loved you both before you were born” (208). Nisha audibly thanks Rashid Uncle, and thinks his words “almost made everything [they] had been through worth it” (208).

Amil and Nisha see Hafa, but she will not acknowledge them. Eventually, Hafa comes within speaking distance and reveals she has two older brothers who are out fighting for Pakistan. Amil tells Hafa she is not supposed to like them, and Hafa says, “And you’re not supposed to like me because I’m Muslim” (213). Hafa says all of her friends had been Hindus and Sikhs, and they have left. Nisha tells Hafa their mother had been Muslim and that they are staying with their uncle. Hafa thinks Nisha and Amil are lucky to be both Hindu and Muslim, and she hopes they will stay.

Hafa comes over and asks Nisha to braid her hair. Hafa then offers to braid Nisha’s. The kids hear Dadi coming and help Hafa out the window. Dadi asks Nisha about her braided hair, and Amil says he did it. After Dadi leaves, Nisha tells Amil that Dadi knows he’s lying. Amil says, “Well, then you talk. Don’t leave it all to me. You don’t seem to have trouble talking to Hafa” (217). Nisha smiles, wondering why she has no trouble talking to Hafa and thinks if adults find out Hafa has been coming over “they will see that [they’re] just two lonely girls who want to be friends. How could a friendship be dangerous?” (217).

Hafa visits and brings Nisha a red ribbon for her hair. Hafa tells Nisha and Amil how lonely she has been and how glad she is to have friends. They hear someone coming, so Hafa leaves and does not return. Nisha cherishes the ribbon and puts it in the pouch with Mama’s jewelry, knowing she cannot wear it without having to explain where she got it.

Papa catches Nisha and Amil talking to Hafa. Infuriated, he asks Nisha and Amil if they are trying to get everyone killed and says they’ll have to leave immediately. Amil says Hafa will not tell anyone, and Papa becomes enraged at Amil. Nisha tells Papa it is her fault, but he doesn’t believe her. He adds that if Hafa’s visit is Nisha’s doing, “Maybe we’re all better off when you keep your mouth shut” (222). Nisha feels the sting of Papa’s words and is ashamed. They family eats dinner in silence, and Nisha vows to never speak again.