She Stretched after a long tiring night and just 3 hours of sleep..It was 6:00 AM. Her body wished to collapse, but her mind pushed her to go on..

Payal walked on to the tiny window of her compact room barely enough for a small cot to fit in. The room had an aura of filth from the sinful acts that it witnessed everyday , every-night. The dawn breaking out , gently letting the sun rays pass through, all the way into her wretched room..

Kamathipura an open prison

It was time for her daily ritual of sun salutation after which she would have to quickly finish off her daily chores. Just an other hour before she would get back to work with one customer after another. That men she would have to satisfy..

The 32 year old Payal was a prostitute in the renowned red light District Kamathipura of Mumbai, India. The district held 14 narrow lanes that were filled with brothels one above the other housing thousands of prostitutes.

Kamini didi the Brothel madam would arrive sharp at 7:00 AM.

"Om Hraam Hreem Hraum Sah Suryay Namah

  Om Hraam Hreem Hraum Sah Suryay Namah"

The mantra reminded payal of her mother far away in West Bengal. Oh her dear old mother! Would she be alive? Those golden days of laying in her mother's lap listening to old wives tales seemed to be lost for ever.

It was an other lifetime that Payal had lived before she  arrived to Mumbai with Himesh at a ripe age of 19 . Himesh, her far relative, who had promised her a fulfilling job far  away from the poverty in West Bengal. Oh! how she would take care of her mother then with all the money she would earn, her and mother's little dreams would come true, she would never have to hold back from buying those little things like glass chudies (bangles) and Bindis. Her mother would never wear those tattered sarees again. Oh, how their life would change...

The water over flowing from her Kalash brought her back to the present.

She was not angry that Himesh had sold her off to Kamini Didi.

Payal smiled for being given another day to live. The delicate rays reminded her everyday that there was hope..She believed she would be free one day unlike other prostitutes who had accepted that their fates would never change, that they would die of old age or a STD in the very Brothel.

Payal was informed by Nanditha, an NGO worker about STD's and  practice of Safe Sex. She would never entertain customers who refused to wear protection.

Nanditha had also told her that there was hope. Only if she could manage to save 15000 rupees, she could be free.

Payal recieved a small share from the amount given by the customers to her. The rest would go on to be shared between Kamini, the pimp Raju and the police. Kamini would in turn provide her a roof above her head and two square meals a day and two cups of very diluted Chai. Rest of her expenses was left for herself to be taken care of, like medicine, clothes, sanitaries etc.

It was getting late. She had just about an hour to go..

Payal took Quick shower and started off  with her job. She never felt disgusted as she considered herself the Mind. Independent of the body that was repeatedly abused.

It was 6:30 PM in Kamathipura. After entertaining 6 customers, Payal was told she had another one to go.

She was beyond exhausted. But Kamini didi had told her, it was a very rich customer , with a huge pool of saliva forming at the corner of her mouth.

Kamini was a greedy woman who salivated just at the thought of money.

Since money was all that Kamini spoke about, the pool had permanently settled at the corner of her mouth.

Kamini had particularly instructed Payal to cater to this rich client's needs and to make sure he comes back for more. She also told payal to wear her yellow Bandini sari which was reserved for such special occasions.

Dressed like a bride Payal waited for the rich man. In no less than 10 minutes he was in her room. It was 11:30 PM by the time the rich man crashed beside her, like a log, unmoved, satisfied.

What was his name, did he have a wife and children stacked safely somewhere with his cash? Was he unhappy in his life..?
With these thoughts Payal drifted off to sleep.

Payal woke up at 6:00 AM like everyday with the ray of hope hitting her face. The Saheb was still sleeping like a log, unaware.

She finished her daily sun salutations and decided it was time for her to wake the man up. She wondered how much he would pay..

When she touched him, he was cold like ice. The stench of death filled her room.

His very life had left his body along with the excitement the night before..

 Payal wanted to cry for help. But she was strong.

Her eyes moved to the fat wallet kept beside her bed. Without another thought, with trembling hands, she lifted it up and opened it. Stacked inside were notes of money. It contained a little more than 20,000 rupees.

 Without another word, she picked it and stepped outside the wretched room. This time with a new feeling..

With the break of  dawn, Payal the prostitute, was finally free.

To whomsoever it may concern . I do NOT own the copyrights of the images/ content displayed above. This information is collected from different sources and put together for EDUCATIONAL purposes only. 
If you sue me, May thunder blast your head.

Thanks for Reading.
-Mia