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Little Moments Of Bliss is a silhouette of a feeling that resides in my heart. A software engineer by degree, a writer at heart, and a teacher by profession, I'm all that I never thought I would be. Pretty pictures,a poem that blatantly refuses to rhyme, a text from a deranged friend, a sudden gesture of love, its these little things in life, that matter and sprinkle bliss. Grace the couch and share a cuppa!

August 18, 2012

When The Red Light Goes Out.

When the red light goes out, a parallel world gets in. The kind that is well guarded and well measured, except to the customers that pay. There exists a story of great mystery and intrigue, for this is the world that trades lust for money.

They come,
They go,
leaving behind some debris,
some pain,
some money.

Looking every bit like a desperate Indian bride, she battled her self-esteem and walked into the room. It smelt foul; like a chemical; like sex. The fear, the turmoil, the storm inside her heart that used to resurface whenever she climbed the staircase to this room had settled. The tasteless decor of red velvet was sprawled across the tainted bed. The walls were a nude yellow and the paint was fresh. She missed the old chapped landscape of the room. It recognized her and she didn't bore any shame in baring all in front of them. They seemed to absorb what was left of the excruciating pain she once felt. At first, the burns on her face seemed to repel him but still he unhooked her bra and got down to business. He knew his pocket allowed him only 200 an hour and this was the the only brothel in town that was eager to serve his needs at this price. The wrinkles around his eyes and mouth were vaguely visible. She wondered if he had any kids or if he was married at all. Apart from all those lustful glares, she thought she saw a glimpse of a clumsy kind man who pitied her condition, but very well knew that he couldn't do much about it. She liked the ones who pitied her, a tear or two made sure they were back within a week. He paid to spend an hour of desperation with her, and to her he would always remain a capable client who could afford her rate and whom she had to please in every possible manner so that he frequently comes back asking for more.

His hesitant polite manner told her that he was not one of those demanding customers who extracted worth out of every minute that they were paying for. As soon as he climaxed, he slid off her chest. It had only been twenty minutes but he started dressing himself. 'Naam kya hai tera ? Agle hafte fir aaunga' (What is your name ?, I'll come again next week). His voice caught her off guard and he was no more the shy stranger. She muttered her name under her breath. With an awkward demeanor he kept the two folded hundreds on the edge of the bed and turned to leave. 'Agar use pata chala ki maine tumse paisa liya hai to mujhe maar daalega' (He would tear me into pieces if word of my ever touching a cent of that money got to his ears). Now she knew, he was a novice.

He looked at her with an almost guilty expression and picked up the money. Apart from the faded moaning, this was the first of what she had ever spoken to a client, she never wanted to; she never had to. Their ignorance towards her feelings had made her strong and she intended on carrying on this strength within her forever. People had been calling her profession dirty and shameless, the irony was that the ones who paid for having sex with her had no dirt on their collar, all of it was served on her platter. She got off the bed, changed the bed sheet and prepared herself all over again looking like an Indian bride for another 200 an hour companion.

She felt sleepy and thought she would call it a night after this one. It had been six long months but still she was never able to entertain more than three men in one night. She knew this was her weakness and that it cost her a lot of money when compared to all the other ladies. Her employer called in after a couple minutes informing her that there weren't any more men asking for her that night.

She fed her baby, ate her dinner and slept a dreamless quiet night.

Government of India has listed prostitution under its list of victimless crimes. Is it really a victimless crime ? If no, who is the real victim?

43 comments:

  1. This was dark and ignited a sense of dread in me. But the subject in question here does this due to her helplessness, but a survey had shown that some women in the red light area did it, because this was the easiest profession to earn hard bucks. I'm not defending anyone here, but it's sad and unfair to the ones who really care but to those who do it without concern, I don't know what to say!

    All in all, a hard-hitting post. Loved your writing, as always :)

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  2. I have read eleven minutes by Paulo Coelho and I think you should do the same. Nonetheless today I was quite away from this world, and your post just left me speechless. I thank you for writing it so plainly and honestly :)

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  3. Its a sad sad situation..but sometimes body is the only way to earn the bread for these ladies.
    Loved how you wrote this!

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  4. I really appreciate the quality piece of writing, and the words you chose narrating the whole scenario !

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  5. Harsh and touching. A topic this intricate written so simply - wonderful!

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  6. Poverty, might be a close Answer. But also there are a lot Of situations which push women into these flesh trades. Men are also an answer.
    Amazing art of scribbling :)

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  7. You have conveyed her sorrow well.It is so fascile to label these women as opportunistic or characterless;but we don't know what pushed them into this trade.

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  8. that was good writing...it is incomprehensible why we ,as a society, denies, victimize, shun and judge a prostitute, when all she is doing is meeting a demand that exist...rather excepting it might give it a lot more legitimacy and control...

    great writing...going to spend some time here

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  9. More than the post, it was the last line that I found really intriguing. Beautiful flow of thought. Amazing writing, as always :)

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  10. Well what can I say about govt of India the leaders themselves are worst then prostitutes at least when paid for an hour the man knows what he is getting, with the govt you don't even know where it is takin us.

    Victim is all. The lady in profession more, but indirectly a lot are effected.

    Sad dark story...

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  11. Your posts are reaching a different level now. Mature, articulate.

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  12. I guess, some are drawn into this profession by force and some others by choice. As a country, I would be ashamed if there is no other avenue for women to earn a decent living except this. Ofcourse, there are film stars who engage in this for money, however, they are a separate breed altogether.

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  13. A really great piece of writing. On a very sensitive topic..

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  14. Excellent writing. A sad reality though.

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  15. without expressing the pain u have expressed it. the picture too speaks a million words. brief and powerful piece. victim...well. its a comlicated question to comment on

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  16. Aayushi, in reality, many are forced into this oldest profession to make two ends meet and on the other hand there are many who do not mind earning the extra bit! Indeed a very harsh world:(

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  17. That writeup tugged at ones heart Aarushi . I feel in most cases these women get into it because of force . Sad !

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  18. Nothing can be worse than having to selling one's body to eke out a living - but it is the reality for many hapless women in our society.

    I think there are a few well-meaning souls who try to get them out of this sorry situation, but much more needs to be done.

    I guess spreading awareness is one way and you are doing a good job in that area.

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  19. brothels has been considered an evil in the Indian society and it is felt it is nothing but a female body exploitation corner.But one should not forget in this indifferent world people always does impossible to earn bread and shelter and if one is OK with his way of earning then their should'nt be much hue and cry.
    Sometimes society thinks it degradates the society,but one should remember,"Its my life".

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  20. The desperation behind the ladies who turn to this profession is much more than just money.
    For some, it means a better life far for the children.
    Loved how you put everything in the right words and feelings.

    ❤Not Just My Allegories❤

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  21. I appreciate your courage for thought provoking write up

    http://legalgensis.blogspot.in/2012/08/decriminalising-prostitution-use.html

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  22. wow, such a hard hitting story. yes, we look down on prostitutes but for them its just a profession. Many of them start when they just reach puberty and they have no way out. Most of them are sold by their own families into this profession.

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  23. Great writing and nicely knitted words ... What is your take on those few who chose this to meet their demand of luxuries?

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  24. Wonderful post Ayushi.. Hard Hitting, below the belt and a fact.. Surely, the government can stop these crimes, but society is too self centered to bother about this and sees it as a way to keep out the filth that has no other way to earn a living.. Sad, Sad, but true..

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  25. Loved the boldness in your writing..it needs guts to bring such issues into light and you did it very nicely..a heart touching post..saddened from inside..

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  26. Poignant.
    Loved the narration and the pace. This is truly good writing!

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  27. heart tugging and sensitive narration ! very sad indeed but also a grim reality !

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  28. It's a damn hard fact of this cruel world!! No one can understand the pain inside such women....earning using their body..shatters them more n more everyday!! hats off to your work gurl...u have put ds up too well !!

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  29. Really appeals to the situation of news now a days.. i regularly hear of something or the other getting victimized.. Respect for women has to be imbibed in every individual from the roots.. may be then no matter which light goes off there will be no poor heart which will be victimized either incidentally or every night..

    Great narration.. Thanks for bringing such a thought which was really under the dark lights in society..

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  30. Beautifully written article on very sensitive subject....
    I liked this line very much....
    "People call her profession dirty and shameless, the irony was that the ones who paid for having sex with her had no dirt on their collar, all of it was served on her platter."

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  31. what a wonderful write up.....sensitive and powerful......the best line perhaps being the last one.....in the word "baby" lies the future.....but what a grim one.....the baby has no gender here.....is it deliberately hidden......what implications would it have if it is a girl?.....so thought-provoking....the darkness of the night combined with the inability to dream hits hard....and is it really quiet.....what about the turmoil inside her heart....i kept reading and reading until i came to the last line Ayushi and it struck me like lightning....it raised so many questions as it concluded.....questions about family, love, innocence, relationship, future, sex, sin, and victimization.....and they all will remain unanswered.....just brilliant....!!!

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  32. This one really prompted me to put the keyboard to use, in all likelihood, because of the grave subject you chose and of the prolific cases of cruel, unfeeling crimes against women, not to mention your narrative prowess.
    Most of them are victims of sexual harassment, rape, domestic violence - repercussion of male dominance in all. Some were sold by family to brothels in their early teens, some were sexually abused in family, some were drugged and pimped by their boyfriends, etc...they weren't accepted in the society.
    Victimless because it's not forceful, but do they have any choice left?
    The biggest victims in this picture are the prostitutes themselves and they remain the victims of prostitution for some are even raped in prostitution and I am sure everyone of them dream of escaping the hell someday.

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  33. The society, it is the victim, and the tormentor too. The woman, is the victim.

    Regards,
    Blasphemous Aesthete

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  34. The story was very well woven and kept me hooked till the end.
    Its really a dark plight for those who are caught in this.

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  35. The last line just touched me....no matter what profession she is in, a woman never shuns from her duty as a mother.

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  36. Extremely well written.. Its is the profession that it treated is seen in a most lowly manner but it till now is a flourishing business. What everyone forgets is that at the end of the day, everybody goes to sleep with their souls open to the darkness.

    I had written a similar post over an year ago . Just in case, if you want to give it a read, Pellucid

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  37. It was amazing thought process to feel the pain..

    But it is always a debatable issue for prostitution to be legalized..

    Some says it will ruin the society, some says it will help prostitutes as it would not result in other harassment for her..

    I am serious believer of paid sex is equivalent of Cannibalism.. But I know that it is trade and equivalent to any service providing...

    Any equilibrium we can draw is to let is be as it is...

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  38. i love this...
    its a reality.. very touchy,,

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  39. v dnt know how she feels...
    no one can do this happily..
    its a big challenge..she daily dies..daily born for compromise...
    very touchy

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