Nisha

Nisha is the protagonist of The Night Diary. She is twelve years old and has a twin brother named Amil. Her parents are Mama and Papa, so she is half-Muslim and half-Hindu -- an identity she struggles to come to terms with throughout the book. Nisha's journey in the book mirrors her journey towards personal growth as she comes to view herself as brave despite the fact that, throughout her life, she has found it incredibly hard to make friends and talk to people. Her silence is contrasted by her brother's noisiness, yet she performs better than him at school and is incredibly observant due to her ability to stay quiet and listen to what others are expressing.

Nisha loves her family deeply and she includes Kazi in her family unit. To her, Kazi is a second father figure, providing her and Amil with a source of affection...