![]() At the literacy center, Amal meets a teacher descended from a family of judges named Asif. Jawad Sahib sends Amal to the center weekly, hoping to encourage attendance amongst other villagers. Because the village knows that the Khan family helped fund the literacy center, no one attends. After returning to the Khan estate, Amal learns that Jawad Sahib’s father, Khan Sahib, has constructed a local literacy center to gain himself favor in a local political election. During her stay at home, Amal hears that her neighbor and friend Fozia Auntie fears for the safety of her family because they have failed to repay a debt owed to Jawad Sahib. One day after shopping in Lahore, Nasreen Baji allows Amal a short visit with her family. Reading soon becomes Amal’s primary solace in a world devoid of true family or freedom. During Jawad Sahib’s absences from the Khan mansion, Amal sneaks into his office, stealing his books to read at night while Nasreen Baji sleeps. She even teaches one of the youngest servants, a child named Fatima, how to read. Amal quickly proves herself as a competent worker and kind friend. Though Nabila, another young servant in Jawad Sahib’s household seems determined to cause Amal misery, constantly pranking and taunting her, she adjusts to her new life. Amal learns that Nasreen Baji’s family lives near her own, and Amal even attended the same school as Nasreen Baji’s nieces. While living at the Khan estate, Amal serves Jawad Sahib’s mother, Nasreen Baji. But because Jawad Sahib has provided Malik with loans that have not yet been repaid, and because Jawad Sahib charges Malik for each day Amal resides in the Khan mansion, Malik cannot possibly procure enough money to free his daughter. Malik promises to financially repay Jawad Sahib, thus securing Amal’s freedom. Though Malik detests the idea Amal suffering indentured servitude, he cannot protect Amal from her fate. He visits her home following the incident to inform Amal’s father, Malik, that Amal must work in Jawad’s home to repay her debt of ingratitude. Jawad Sahib perceives Amal’s behavior in the market as an expression of utmost disrespect. Amal soon learns that the stranger from the market was Jawad Sahib, a man feared by everyone in Amal’s village for his power, wealth, and mercilessness. When the stranger asks to keep it for his mother, Amal refuses, snatching the fruit from his hands and running home. An unfamiliar man emerges from the vehicle and retrieves Amal’s fallen pomegranate from the street. As Amal begins her walk home from the market after collecting some groceries, a shiny black car collides with her. ![]() One day, Amal ventures to the local market alone, desperate for a break from her home and chores. But Amal still feels trapped in her domestic position at home and longs to return to school. ![]() Seema, the second eldest daughter in Amal’s family, teaches Amal the lessons she misses in school and transports Amal’s tests and assignments to and from school. But when Amal’s mother, Mehnaz, falls into crippling post-partum depression following the birth of her fifth daughter, Amal must stay home, attending to the chores and her siblings. She loves school and learning and even secretly borrows books from her friend Omar’s boys’ school library because its selection is broader than that of her own girls’ school. Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018.Īmal lives in a Pakistani village called Nabay Chak. The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Saeed, Aisha.
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