The Night Diary

Nisha dreams of Mama and sees the dream as a sign that Mama is listening to her.

Kazi packs everything from the kitchen cupboards. Papa is behaving strangely. He is extra attentive to Amil and Nisha, playing several games of chess with Amil and reading stories from the Mahabharata storybook: “His voice sounded different, higher, sadder. He read slowly and didn’t stop when he was supposed to at the periods” (64). It is the first time Nisha remembers Papa reading to her and Amil. Amil says Papa is lonely, prompting a revelation for Nisha: Papa misses the times he had with Mama, and Nisha misses the time she never got to have. Amil says Papa is a terrible reader, and both he and Nisha agree Papa needs to practice. They giggle, and Nisha hopes Papa will read to them again.

Kazi teaches Nisha how to make samosas and tells her Papa is having a party. Nisha is confused; they are “supposed to be scared and sad now” (68). Papa says the reason for the party is that he wants to see their friends and family; it had been too long.