A snippet from the life of a day in prison... - By Yumna Desai

Written By: Yumna Desai

Category: Creative Non-Fiction

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Yumna Desai's "A snippet from the life of a day in prison..." is an evocative piece of creative writing submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This poignant narrative offers readers an unflinching glimpse into the harsh realities and emotional landscapes faced by inmates. Through vivid storytelling, Desai delves into themes of resilience, sisterhood, and the enduring human spirit amid adversity.

About the Work

The narrative captures the raw essence of life within prison walls, where each inmate's story intertwines with others, creating a tapestry of shared experiences. Desai's work is rich with imagery and emotion, portraying the tumultuous balance between despair and hope. The piece explores the complexities of human emotions, the bonds formed in the darkest of places, and the silent strength that emerges through collective endurance.

A snippet from the life of a day in prison...

Original Submission by Yumna Desai

She keeps banging her head on the wall and screaming. Her screams are deafening. For some reason I am angry at her today. She can’t keep on doing this, she has to be more considerate to her fellow inmates. We’ve all been through the same; it’s not only her that is in prison. She can’t keep on doing this to us.

I’m lost in thought battling my own anger and thoughts when I realize all is quite. Well a bit too quite...

My thoughts are broken by Hanan. “Yumna,” she says, “open the bathroom door, I think she isn’t okay, the silence is almost scary.”

“No!” I reply, “I’ve had enough of her performances.” I go back to my thoughts only for it to be interrupted again by Hanan screaming too, I turn to see her holding the bathroom door open and then I realize what she has seen. On the cold floor lies her limp body, a packet tied over her head and a scarf around her neck. I unconsciously get up and walk into the bathroom. I hear Hanan saying no no Yumna, don’t go in, call the guards. Yumna stop, don’t look at her, you are going to get regret it, you are going to get nightmares. You’re not going to be able to live a normal life again after this. I ignore her screams, I am suddenly overtaken by calmness. I open the door slowly and untie the packet from her face. I untie the scarf and feel her pulse. She is still breathing faintly but she seems unconscious. I splash water on her face, Juju can you hear me? I drag her body back into the cell and I hear Hanan screaming, are you freaking crazy Yumna, leave that body alone, Yumna.

I don’t remember when the guards came in, or when they took her body out. I lost count of the time, as I see them putting her lifeless body on the stretcher and wheeling her out. Hanan is gone out too, I hear her fighting the guards outside, telling them she’ll never be able sleep in this cell again after what she witnessed tonight. I sigh, I know she’ll be back and I know she’ll be okay cos she’s a political prisoner and all political prisoners are fighters - they aren’t ordinary citizens! They were born to rebel, born to stand up to injustice.

The days passed. Days became months, months turned to years. We became accustomed to the blindfolded "unknown figures" who passed by...

Each one had their own story. Each one put on a brave face to help the other, yet behind those dark eyes, there lied untold stories of patience, perseverance and pain. We pulled through, we learnt our own language and codes amongst ourselves – the beauty of sisterhood. A newcomer would be bewildered at our language, struggling to understand how we survived in a world new to them.

We forgot about the outside world. We forgot how freedom felt and we forgot there existed a nation outside who slept through the oppression and existence of another dark world. We pulled through, we stood together no matter what and we fought for each other, do or die. We shared in the joy, grief and laughter of each other. Time, place and circumstances tore us apart and with each one that left, the feeling was one of joy and sadness, joy that she was released and sadness that a member of the group was separated. The separation was the worst, for days darkness loomed over the prison and amongst the inmates as if a family member had just passed away.

And we kept joking. Joking because that was all we could do. While the outside world lived, we became numbers; losing our names. Numbers that added up and kept counting, numbers that had no identity, personality or feelings. Numbers that got lost along with their names! Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, and months turned to years. We finally lost count. Prison became our second home, the inmates a second family. We became accustomed to the sounds of prison, the shackles, the banging of cell doors, the screams, the tears, the cries, the torture...

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, invites participants worldwide to showcase their literary talents. Celebrating diverse voices and stories, the competition provides a platform for creative expression and the exploration of universal themes. It stands as a testament to the power of words in illuminating the human condition.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Yumna Desai for her compelling submission, "A snippet from the life of a day in prison..." to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her portrayal of life behind bars is both moving and thought-provoking, offering readers a profound understanding of resilience and solidarity. Thank you, Yumna, for sharing this powerful narrative with us.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.