In war-torn Kabul, young Parvana lives with her family under the repressive Taliban regime, which denies women the right to work or even be in public without a male escort. When Parvana's father is unjustly arrested, the family’s survival is jeopardized as they lose their sole male provider. With limited options and her family's well-being at stake, Parvana cuts her hair and disguises herself as a boy named Aatish to earn money and gather food. This new identity allows her to navigate the city's dangerous streets more freely and seek ways to free her father from prison.

As Parvana embarks on this perilous journey, she encounters various challenges and forms new friendships, all while the constant threat of discovery looms over her. She weaves elements of hope and fantasy into her grim reality by telling a tale of a young boy on a quest to retrieve stolen seeds from an evil elephant king. Her storytelling serves as a powerful metaphor for her own struggles and determination. The narrative intermingles Parvana's courageous efforts with her family's resilience, painting a poignant picture of life and survival under tyranny without revealing the resolution of their plight.