Let’s Get Raped VII
1
0
Display Picture of a Commercial Sex Worker
(Originally Posted on 17th February, 2019)
It was the fourth day of Ganesh Chaturthi. Tantra left early on her Yamaha RayZ. Her destination was the Dagduseth Halwai temple. The traffic was unbelievable. She parked her scooter near Kasba Ganapathi and started her day. A day that left an indelible mark on her life. A day far from the humdrum of her daily life. She walked, prayed, and ate through to the evening.
Praying was not her only aim for the day. It was 8 pm. She stepped into a red-red world. A world known to every resident Punekar!
As the chaos slowly, very slowly faded, commercial sex workers started emerging from their dens. Sarees adjusted, well, deliberately not adjusted, to show off some cleavage. Lurking men eyeing their pleasure for the day.
Tantra walked past them. She looked into the eyes of a 20-something lady dressed in a red saree with heavy eyeliner and lipstick. She walked towards her and asked for time to talk in exchange for 5000 INR. The lady agreed with a smile. Her teeth, were red, riddled with stains from the lipstick. They walked through a dingy alley leading to a flight of stairs that seemed like a mini Everest. They reached the room assigned to her. Tantra was in no mood to get into the sob story of the lady. The lady was Laya, a 23-year-old commercial sex worker trafficked from the far eastern part of India. Living in Budhwar Peth since 4 years.
Tantra thanked her for the job she was doing. The job of satisfying the sexual cravings of hordes of men who come visit her. Keeping these men away from not having consensual sex with a random female. Laya may have been trafficked but she is making a living off the streets. Tantra held Laya’s hands and laid a peck on her wrist and asked for a favor – not to beg for clients.
The men will flock.
Laya looked past the window, the Aarti (prayer) to Lord Ganesha blaring from the microphone from a few 100 meters away. Laya held Tantra’s hand back and thanked her for instilling some sort of dignity into her mind.
Tantra walked out.
Laya got paid handsomely today. For the first time without any physical contact. Laya changed her attire.
In this colorful world, she was stuck with red. A red saree, a red blouse, and bright red lipstick in a red light area. The first payment was when red blood gushed out. This time she wore a blue kurta.
Laya took out her phone. She finally used her front camera to take a selfie. She removed the display picture of some random Bollywood actress and made that selfie – her DP – Display Picture on all social media platforms.
She left a mark though.
She just had a little extra.
A little bit extra.
Of Lipstick!
