Barek, a man in his mid-fifties whom I called Nana (grand-father), had a house near ours. He lived in Kolkata much of the time but village people did not know what he did. I used to joke with him (culturally permitted with a nana). Once, I told Nana that I would like to see Kolkata. I said my brother could come with us. Nana agreed to take me but alone and he said I should not mention it to anyone. He told me to meet him at a certain point. I put a few clothes in a bag. My mother saw me and asked what I was doing. I said that I was going to get my clothes ironed.
On the way to Kolkata, I got afraid and asked Barek:
- "You are not going to sell me, are you?" He said:
- "Of course not".
I was not re-assured.
In Kolkata, he took me to Chompa (a malkeen, and Barek’s lover). Then I understood I had been fooled and Nana had lied to me. The first night, I was left alone. The second night, I went to bed with a girl but before I was given a Thumbs Up soda. I don't know what they put in this drink but I fell deeply asleep. While I was asleep, the girl left and a man entered.
The door was bolted from outside. This man used me. I bled a lot. I was not prepared for this. The next day, I felt terrible and the malkeen took me to the doctor. She said it cost her 1,500 rupees. After a few days there, Barek went back to the village.
Two months ago, he came back and wanted to take me to Mumbai. I refused. I told him to take me back home and if he did not do so I would run away. After this, Nana told the malkeen to keep me in a locked room. They sent customers to me and I was not allowed to go out. I was given so many customers everyday, that was terrible. Many dalals were sending men to me. They advertised a new girl. Barek and Chompa together, they managed me.
One day, I could not take it anymore. I went on the balcony and jumped from the 2nd floor. Barek and Chompa immediately took me to a private clinic where I was kept for one month. I wanted to die but I just broke my right leg. Rekha and Barek told me that my treatment cost them 1,00,000 rupees. When I was taken back, they insisted that I work even harder to reimburse my debt. Pressure on me was even worst than before.
I told my sorrow to another girl and she spoke to the Durbar supervisor. The latter contacted the club people. Together, they forced Chompa and Barek to release me. I was then placed under another malkeen as an adiya.
The cost of my treatment was checked and it was only 28,000-30,000 rupees, which I had certainly earned through my previous work. Barek and Chompa tried to claim me back but the club protects me.
What Barek did to me, I cannot explain it. I have nightmares about him. He cursed me. He vowed that I would never marry. He used to tell me not to reveal that I came from a good family and that I had studied up to Class VIII.
Narrative located in the report ‘Beyond Boundaries: A Critical Look at Women Labour Migration and the Trafficking Within’ by Thérèse Blanchet provided courtesy of The Child Protection Hub
