Nigina’s Arrival from Mars
Early in the morning, Nigina’s mother entered her daughter’s room to wake her up. But Nigina was not there. Thinking she might have woken up early, her mother searched every room in the house and even the garden. Although Nigina rarely played with the neighbors, her mother still checked their homes — but no one had seen her.
By the time she reached the school, it was clear that something extraordinary had happened. The rocket was missing. Even more shocking was the huge hole in the school roof, which left everyone frightened and confused. But among Nigina’s classmates, fear mixed with excitement. The rocket they had built was not a toy after all. It was real — powerful enough to fly away. This filled them with pride and amazement.
No one could explain how a school project could reach another planet. No one knew where Nigina went. Her mother was worried, the teachers were confused, and her classmates were completely lost. The rocket was gone, the roof was destroyed — and Nigina had disappeared. For everyone, it became a mystery.
News about Nigina spread quickly — first across the town, then throughout the country. Journalists and scientists arrived from everywhere. They visited her school, her house, even the backyard. People who knew Nigina gave interviews, eager to share their thoughts. The whole country wanted to know: Where was Nigina? What happened to her? And how did she fly a real rocket?
Meanwhile, Nigina sat inside the rocket cabin, writing down her thoughts. Time felt strange to her — almost frozen. She explored the strange planet around her and was amazed to see sunflowers growing on Mars. Their leaves were purple, and the seeds were much larger. Curious, she tasted one and smiled. “It tastes good,” Nigina whispered.
Nearby grew banana and coconut trees. Just as she reached for a banana, something struck her hand. Startled, Nigina ran back into the rocket and peered out the window, trembling. A sudden cry echoed outside, frightening her even more. But moments later, she saw a pile of bananas gently placed near the rocket.
It was a monkey — trying to make friends.
Nigina’s fear melted away. Soon, she and the little monkey became close companions. She named him King of Space. With her new friend, she explored Mars freely. They walked along a silver river where fish sang songs, and pink-feathered ducks swam gracefully. Fields of chamomile stretched nearby, while red butterflies danced above them. Nigina had never seen such a beautiful place. Everything felt magical — as if she had been born again.
The King of Space gave Nigina a glowing butterfly as a gift — its soft red light brightened even the darkest night. She also met a frog who spoke twenty languages, a chameleon-cat that changed colors, and a magical plant called the Knowledge Leaf. The monkey handed her one of the leaves and said:
“Keep this with you. It knows everything. When you are lost, it will guide you.”
Nigina wondered how easily she would now answer all the questions in her classes back on Earth.
She left paper, candy, glue, and other little gifts for her new friends. Then came the time to say goodbye. In the middle of the night, the rocket landed gently on her home’s roof. Her mother was awake — waiting. They embraced tightly. From her daughter’s eyes, the mother could see that Nigina had changed forever.
The news of her return spread quickly across the city. Reporters lined up to speak with the girl who had visited space. Her photographs appeared in the city center. But for Nigina, fame did not matter. What mattered were the friends she had made on Mars.
Every night, when she looked up at the stars, she felt as though they were waving back at her.
Nigina wrote down everything she had seen — the rivers, the glowing butterflies, the magical plants — so others could learn about the wonders she discovered. She handed her classmates shiny stones she had brought from Mars and said she was proud of their brilliant inventions.
Story by Asmonur Rajabboyeva
English Translation by Shuxratova Nilufar
Nilufar Azizbek qizi Shukhratova was born on March 31, 2013, in the Uchqo‘rg‘on district of Namangan region. She received her primary education at School No. 31 in her district. She is currently continuing her studies at the Is’hoqxon Ibrat Creative School in the To‘raqo‘rg‘on district.
Despite her young age, Nilufar has achieved a number of accomplishments before turning 12. As a young translator, she has been translating many Uzbek stories into English. Through each new translation, she not only improves her language skills but also enhances her creative thinking and literary abilities.
One of Nilufar’s biggest dreams is to become a student at Harvard University, one of the world’s most prestigious institutions. From now on, she continues to strengthen her passion for science, language learning, reading, and creating, moving steadily toward her goal.
Her teachers and close ones describe her as intelligent, hardworking, inquisitive, and very responsible. Every achievement she attains is a strong step toward the great milestones that await her in the future.
