At the start of the year a new girl, Tania, joined Nusrat's class. Her family had come to the city after the river took their home. At lunchtime everyone opened their boxes, and Tania quietly looked out of the window.
On the third day Nusrat noticed. Her box had two parathas and fried potatoes. Without a word she sat beside Tania and pushed one paratha towards her: 'Ammu gave me extra today — won't you have one?'
Tania was shy at first, then smiled. From that day the two ate lunch together. Some days later Tania's mother even sent pitha for Nusrat.
Nusrat learned that sharing a paratha leaves the stomach a little less full, but the heart much fuller.