After
taking a metro from AIIMS, I landed at New Delhi station and walked out only to
notice a congested Delhi. The roads filled with rickshaw pullers and humongous traffic,
without street lights at the junction, was a complete contrast to the area,
where I lived in Delhi.
I
was waiting for my office personnel, to accompany me to the project area in GB
road. Meanwhile, I observed few men staring and passing some lewd comments.
Though initially panicked, I gave a facial expression showing ignorance. After
ten minutes, the project person, Aravind arrived and we moved to a small hotel
to have breakfast. Aravind is a spoken English trainer in one of our projects
in New Delhi.
We
had discussion about the project and the aspects to cover during my visit. He
revealed that GB Road is a place where thousands of sex workers live and it is
particularly not safe for men to walk in that lane during morning hours. When I
asked why it is not safe, he answers, “They come directly to men and ask
"Aayega kya?" and make fun by passing comments on us”, says Aravind.
He
explained me clearly, that very rarely women not of this locality are found in
this road, apart from sex workers. If a person like me goes there, people assume
that am also one among them. This actually gave me goose bumps, if I had to
visit or not, but the Regional Manager in Delhi was a woman and asked me to be
bold. She was a passed out from JNU and alone goes to the project but never
faced any problems.
Remembering
those words, I gathered courage and started walking towards the project.
Aravind said that he doesnt want to lift his head, as the women from windows
can pass any comment that could be awkward. I kept walking, and was unable to
find any girl on the road except myself. I was feeling scared and started
doubting if am doing right job or not.
There
were all sorts of men ogling and staring differently. I ensured that I was
covered with Shawl completely. For at least half a kilometer, there were no
traces of even a single woman. All I could see is myself and people gazing from
top to bottom.
And
then I looked up and found a woman in pink saree with puffy eyes looking very
dull. Somehow, I was trying to understand her, she looked at me continuously
for 10 seconds and changes direction. That is when Aravind informs, that she is
a sex worker.
We
pass by and find a road filled with big cars ( clients cars). The architecture
of the buildings in that area belong to Mughal era and are very old. The ground
floor comprise of shops (various business), first, second and third floor is
where women reside. It was 9:30 am and slowly women were coming out of their
rooms and standing near windows.
Few
of them were brushing and others teasing men with all sorts of comments. They
were few women who were on the ground floor and having interactions among each
other. I found few men along with them, whom i suppose to be the Pimp- the
manger of brothels. The women were dressed in skirts, jeans, chudidhar, night
pants and moving here and there.
I
was surprised to see a very young girl (some where around 20 years), she was
very beautiful with pretty long black hair. She was fair and had good physique.
They were women gazing at me, initially i was scared to look into their eyes,
but i somehow responded back. They were seeing me with suspicion and have
conversation among them. Then all of a sudden, one of the women passes a flying
kiss to Aravind and asks "Ayega Kya..?", That is when i was unable to
control my laugh and giggled.
And
then it was more half a kilometer to reach the project area. Suddenly a woman
with bob hair cut in pink saree arrives with two other young girls and takes
them into the building. The middle men interacts with her and takes them in to
rooms. I saw few women with small children and also old women in late 45's
having conversation.
Aravind
asks me to look at the walls where something was written in Hindi. It was
written "Condom pehno, Suraksha Karo". He informs that government
does all this activity to educate women. When asked if officials dont take any
action on these homes, he informs that sex is legal over here and most of these
homes have license to carry out with activity. If there is any problem, the
pimps pay money to the police and get away with it. He informs that this is not
something new and existed since Mughals rule but not in such range.
We
take a turn to the other side and i was able to view the houses more clearly. I
was about to take a snap and Aravind warns me to put the camera inside as
middle men can attack me at any moment. I was walking and was able to observe
few women very closely. They are tension free people and dont give a damn about
what others care. They sit on the steps and stare at people. They have very
beautiful hair cuts and i was trying to talk to them but Aravind warns me not
to disturb them.
 |
| Cave like structure |
 |
| Rooms locked to stop communication with outsiders |
I
just kept walking and at one building i stopped. They were nearly 30 steps at a
stretch and some how it appears that you are entering a cave. It is as such,
that clients or men stand at the last step and women sit at every fifth step -
5, 10, 15, 20.... and call men. This was something i observed while I was
returning to guest house. There were five women dressed beautifully and was
asking a 60 year old man to come up. They were making different signs with
hands and this fellow was enjoying as if he was 16. I stared at them for 10
seconds and made a move.
