Born Behind Bars

Kabir eats breakfast with Patti (his grandmother), and then they go shopping for school clothes. She buys him several sets, and when he says he doesn’t need so many, she says it’s good to have more than what’s needed. They also buy a set of clothes for Rani, and Patti lets Kabir use her smartphone to call Rani. He tells her that his father is dead but he’s doing well. She loves the school so far because she sleeps in a tent, eats good food, has lessons outside, and has made friends.

Kabir is enjoying freedom from prison and likes his new home. He has his own bed, windows, a fan that always works, and unlimited access to water and ice, and he’s able to roam about outside. However, he’s not totally content because Amma remains in prison.

Kabir and Amma exchange letters, but she doesn’t say anything about Appa’s death. Amma encourages Kabir not to worry about her and to enjoy his freedom. He can’t bring himself to give up on her.

Kabir’s father’s cousin, Salma Aunty, visits with her son, Junaid, who’s around Kabir’s age. The boys go outside to play, and Junaid asks Kabir about his past. Junaid then says Kabir’s mom probably did something awful to get put in prison. Kabir ignores him. Junaid speaks to some other boys playing cricket. Kabir goes back upstairs, saying he doesn’t want to play with Junaid anymore because of what he said. He already has friends, Rani and Malli, so he doesn’t need Junaid.

Patti and Thatha tell Kabir they believe him about his mom being a good person and possibly even innocent. However, they don’t have money to hire a lawyer. Patti promises to speak to Junaid’s mother about what he said. She says that maybe they can be friends one day, but Kabir’s not sure about this.

Kabir accompanies Patti to the market to shop for dinner. They return to the building, and Kabir helps her bring the groceries in, passing the boys playing cricket once again. Patti encourages him to play with the boys, but Kabir would rather help cook today. His father also used to like to help cook, Patti says, and was brave in trying new things and remaining true to himself.

They eat lunch, and then Patti and Thatha take a nap. Patti lets Kabir use her phone and says it has games on it. He researches lawyers in the area and then starts calling them, explaining that his mother is in prison and innocent, that he can’t pay, but that he needs help. Most hang up on him, but he remembers what Patti told him. She described what his father said about being brave: “Fear is a lock. Courage is a key” (229). This gives him the resolve to keep trying. Patti and Thatha wake up before he has any success. Patti then tells him she can see the calls he made (he didn’t realize this because he doesn’t have much experience using smartphones). She agrees to let him keep trying a bit each day but warns him not to get too hopeful and also asks him to play cricket outside with the boys so that he doesn’t spend all his time worrying about something that’s ultimately not within his complete control.

The following day, while Patti and Kabir are returning from grocery shopping, a cricket ball flies at Kabir. He catches it, and the boys playing are impressed. They ask Kabir to join their game, and Patti encourages this. One boy, named Lakshman, is very friendly toward Kabir, asking many questions. Kabir confesses that he doesn’t know how to play cricket but he’s a fast learner. Lakshman says Kabir can be the fielder, whose role is simple, but later he’ll teach Kabir the full rules. Kabir has a good time playing.

Afterward, he walks back upstairs with Lakshman, who continues asking questions and learns that Kabir’s father is dead and his mother is in prison for a crime she didn’t commit. Lakshman, who (like Kabir) is from Chennai, is impressed by Kabir’s mission to find a lawyer. He thinks maybe one day he’ll become a lawyer who helps those who can’t afford one. Kabir tells Lakshman he has good ideas, and Lakshman thanks him; Kabir likes it when people say “thank you.” Kabir says maybe Viji Aunty can help him and Amma. Lakshman agrees and offers to accompany him there the following day.

In the morning, before Patti and Thatha wake up, Kabir and Lakshman take the bus to Viji Aunty’s school. A large wall surrounds it, but the guard is nice and opens the gate for the boys. They spot Rani, who seems happier than ever. She shows them her tent and some other kids’ tents. However, she now realizes that being inside isn’t all bad. In fact, she’s considering moving inside, where most kids already live, when the rainy season arrives. Kabir says his grandparents are wonderful, but he still wants to free Amma, which he was hoping Viji Aunty could help with. Rani takes the boys to her.

Viji Aunty has both boys call their grandparents or parents to explain where they are and then tells them that next time they must bring the adults with them. She listens to Kabir’s story and tells him that her sister-in-law, Tanvi, works at a law firm that assists people without much money. They call her. Immediately, Tanvi Ma’am reveals that, even if Amma were guilty, the sentence for aggravated theft is only seven years. Kabir wants them to prove Amma’s innocence, but Tanvi says they can’t prove that a decade after the alleged crime with no evidence, but they can probably get her out given that the maximum sentence for the crime she was accused of has already passed. Kabir expresses his gratitude to Viji Aunty.

Every afternoon, Kabir accompanies Patti to the market, then helps her carry groceries upstairs, and then plays cricket with Lakshman and the other boys. Thatha watches them from the window upstairs. Tanvi Ma’am calls weekly to discuss Amma’s case. While looking into it, they found other problems with the prison, and the superintendent has been fired. More women besides Amma will be freed, and they’ll try to improve the conditions for those remaining in the prison. Patti and Thatha help Kabir adjust to life outside prison, which can be scary because it’s so new, even though it’s preferable to prison. Prayer, meals, market trips, and other routines help Kabir adjust.

Kabir is playing cricket one day and sees Thatha watching him from right there, not from upstairs. Thatha asks to speak to Kabir, and they go upstairs to Patti. They tell Kabir that tomorrow, they’ll travel to Chennai to pick up Amma upon her release from prison and bring her home to live with them. Kabir is overjoyed and calls Rani to tell her the great news. She commends him for his efforts, and he thanks her for her friendship, which helped make it possible to realize his goals.

Kabir, Patti, and Thatha travel to Chennai, and then Tanvi Ma’am picks them up and drives them to the prison. Amma comes out, and Grandma Knife also comes to say hi. The moment when Kabir hugs Amma, with no one telling him to stop, is the best of his life. Kabir promises to become a lawyer one day and free Grandma Knife, but she says it’s enough for her to know Amma and Kabir are free.

Seeing Amma with Patti and Thatha, Kabir knows he’s the missing “puzzle piece” that will hold his family together. He’s sad that his father can’t be there too, but he’s happy his family and friend circle is now bigger than he ever imagined.