Prisoners at large

A jury in front. Questions. His nervous answers. More questions. Finally Kabir pleaded guilty. He had managed to keep slipping away nicely for a few years since he had got trapped into this field. But now all the evidence was against him. And as expected, they sentenced him to jail.

It sounded scary. But then, somehow he couldn’t help feel a bit excited! This was going to be his very first time. In his profession, it is hard to keep escaping forever. And a prison is a nice place to catch up with some pros in this business (who unfortunately had one bad day at the office when they got caught!)

There he was. They took him to his cell. And there was another guy already there. A newbie he was. Poor chap got caught in his first week. Never mind, I would teach him a trick or two, Kabir thought. And there were many more. They were to suffer together. They made them work through the day and the night. Rehabilitation - they called it. Non sense – thought Kabir and co.

The traces of excitement in Kabir were beginning to die down. But then gradually he did start learning the tricks of the trade from his fellow inmates. And there was so much to learn! From conning the common man on the street to duping governments! Someone or the other had done it. And done it well. I want to try it all out once I am outta here, thought Kabir.

The every day pain seemed so much more bearable now. In fact it became a routine. Fellow inmates soon became close buddies. Life is actually not too bad here, thought Kabir.

Soon rumours started doing the rounds in the cells. The prison was going to be under attack, they said. The big gangs had a few of their men in here. And they were just looking for a chance to rescue them. Kabir, like others, started dreaming of the world outside. I just need to get out, he thought.

And one night they could hear the firing. The security was never going to be strong enough. The fight lasted for a couple of days, and seeing his chance, soon Kabir was out, just like many others.

They are out in the open. Much smarter than what they were when they went inside. The world is not safe!