Born Behind Bars

Nine-year-old Kabir, who has been imprisoned his whole life along with his mother (Amma), gazes out the small window at the sky. He can see only a bit of it but tries to imagine what the rest of the sky and the world look like. After months of rain, the sun’s finally out. He has never been outside the prison’s borders but still wishes he can be free with Amma one day and see the world.

Kabir and Amma live in a cell with three other women, all of whom Kabir refers to using nicknames inside his head. Amma insists that he view them as family, though they’re not his biological family. Grandma Knife is a tough, assertive, and smart woman who is caring and protective toward Amma and Kabir. Aunty Cloud is quiet but kind, and Mouse Girl, who is new, is flustered and hungry. Amma and Aunty Cloud wish Kabir a happy ninth birthday. Grandma Knife says that Kabir’s too old to still be living in the prison. Kabir doesn’t understand what she means because she’s much older than him and she still lives in prison.