Age:
Middle School
Reading Level: 2.9
About the Author
Manju Bal Krishna is a writer from India who does content reviewing and content development for school students in English language and literature, value education, and social sciences. She also writes stories, plays, and poems for her students and herself. Many of these have been well-appreciated in literary journals. Other interests are gardening, cooking, and keeping her home beautiful and clean.
Chapter 1
GLOSSARY
Katkati (Hindi): used in jest for one who chatters/a chatterbox
Kat-kat (Hindi): to chatter
Jehannum (Urdu): Hell
Amma (Hindi/ Urdu): address for mother
Abba (Urdu): address for father
Saab or sahib (Hindi/ Urdu): salutation for a rich and/or educated person
Dada (Hindi): salutation for an elder brother
Aunty: any older, respected woman
Eid: an important festival of the Muslim community
*Pictures are for representational purposes only.*
Chapter 2
"I will be a big girl, one day. Big and strong, Abba.”
"Hmm, we will see.”
"Who are you answering to? She’s talking in her sleep,” laughed Amma.
Abba chuckled, too, and said, "Our Katkati’s kat-kat doesn’t stop, huh?”
My good name is Zeenat; my home name is Katkati.
I am the daughter of Rehmat and Bano. We all work in a brick kiln, a big oven that bakes bricks, like all the others from our village.
I call it my village. Abba calls it a settlement, and Amma calls it Jehannum, whatever that is.
Amma calls me Katkati, with love. You know, why? Because I chatter through the day!
