वो रात (That Night): A Story of Fear, Memory, and Hope
Isha Anand 
The Book: वो रात (That Night)
On the quiet evening of May 26th, the team at CBA gathered for a deeply moving story reading of “वो रात” (That Night) - a hauntingly beautiful picture book written by Bijal Vachharajani and illustrated by Shrujana Niranjani Shridhar. Facilitated entirely in Hindi, the session became a shared space for storytelling, reflection, and collective empathy.
🌒 Setting the scene: From Our Stories to The Story
We began by introducing ourselves and then dove into our pasts, unearthing memories of fear, moments when we felt unsafe, restless, or unheard as children. What followed was powerful. Participants shared intimate, sometimes painful recollections. We listened with care. There was silence, nods, and words that wrapped around each other like blankets, offering comfort and understanding. These personal stories allowed us to enter the world of वो रात not as outsiders, but as companions to Chetu, the little girl at the heart of the book, whose night is shadowed by fear and unanswered questions.
🖤 A Story Painted in Darkness
As we opened the book, we were immediately struck by the artwork. Set at night, the illustrations are dominated by black, mirroring fear, confusion, and the unknown. The story opens with Chetu, clutching her blanket tightly, her literal security. Disturbed by strange noises outside, she looks to her mother for comfort. Here, we paused to reflect on how fragrances can carry us through time, bringing memories of comfort and belonging. We shared how scents can anchor us in moments of safety during storms of fear. Soon, the visuals shift, the dark sky seems to burn, and monstrous flames rise like dragons. We talked about how in a child’s imagination, fear transforms into creatures made of anger, hate, and violence. Chetu thinks of her friend Kabir, who lives near the chaos. She fears for him, reminding us how children, even in fear, hold space for their friends.
A story painted in darkness
👨👩👧 Holding On- To Each Other and Safety
As the story unfolds, we meet Chetu’s father, his face marked with worry. He must step out into the fire and fear. Chetu, still holding her blanket, tries to hold on to him too. One illustration stood out, two hands: a child’s small fingers gripping an adult’s, a moment that captured a world of love, helplessness, and longing.
Two hands: a world of love, helplessness and longing
Chetu asks questions. Not easy ones. “Why is this happening to us?” The book invites us into the heavy territory of us vs them. We discussed: Who is “they”? How does a child make sense of identity when society refuses to accept them? One participant shared, “I’m wondering how Chetu will grow up — will she try to change who she is, just to be accepted?” We spoke of how childhood transforms when fear enters the home, when safety is not guaranteed. When silence outside the window means something terrifying might be happening.
“I’m wondering how Chetu will grow up — will she try to change who she is, just to be accepted?” - A reflection shared by a participant
🌌 And Then- A Sky with Purple Hues
After what feels like forever, Chetu’s father returns. He is tired, but safe. The family holds each other in quiet relief. The next page is a wash of purple sky, soft, calming, almost magical. The nightmare has not vanished, but for now, they are together. We lingered on the tender intimacy between Chetu’s parents, an important visual reminder of the emotional world children observe and absorb.
🌱 Ending With Hope
We closed our reading with a collective reflection: “In moments of fear, what gives you hope? Where do you turn for safety?” The answers were honest and warm. Music, Movies, Books, Food, Walks, Family, friends, and partners Together, we found that even in stories about fear, there is always room for light, flickering in memories, in relationships, and in the promise of a new day
CBA community holding on to hope
This reading was facilitated by Isha Anand and Arushi Ralli
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