Sahithi's Adventures

Missing Girl - Part 3

The Lady

The lady led Sahithi into a huge building that was well lit - it was almost like a palace. The main door was being guarded by armed men in full armour. Though they were not royal guards, they seemed to be wealthy enough to be able to afford strong metal armour, which was surprising. The first guard raised his torch to see their faces clearly while the other drew his sword, ready to attack at a moment's notice. After what seemed hours but perhaps just a few seconds, the first guard lowered his torch, bowed to the lady and signalled to his comrade, who sheathed his weapon, bowed to the lady and opened the door.

“Don’t allow any man whose body has been smeared with charcoal. If he creates trouble, dispose of him.” She instructed the guards, who bowed again. “As you wish, my lady.”

Sahithi was a bit suspicious but not surprised. It was obvious a lady who could afford to roam about wearing expensive jewellery could also afford to employ private guards for her protection. But she kept her doubts for the time being as she entered the palace-like building. There were armed guards at strategic places, enough to discourage anyone who had bad intentions but reassuring enough for those inhabiting the building. Her first real doubt was raised when she entered the inner palace where there were many gaudily dressed women dressed in clothes that were meant to seduce men.

“Is this a pleasure house?” she thought.

“Yes. It is a pleasure house, but it is the safest place for you at present.” Sahithi cursed herself for speaking her thoughts aloud, blushing deeply. She became a bit nervous at the confirmation of her fears.

“Don’t worry.” The lady said, as if she could hear her thoughts. “My only intention is to keep you safe. There is a room where no one is allowed except those I permit. Besides, my secrets are safe here and if you are my secret, you will remain a secret as long as I want it to be a secret.” Sahithi’s eyes went wide, both in surprise and also at the kind of power this lady commanded, if her words were to be believed. Besides, what choice did she have except to believe her, having stepped into her den? She took a deep breath and decided to take things as they came to her.

They crossed several rooms along the corridor, the doors closed, what happened behind those doors was best left alone, for she knew that women here were meant to please men in return for money. The problem was that she wanted to go out of this place unmolested. Would that even happen? She had read that women in pleasure houses were looked down upon by respectable people or even those who considered themselves to belong to respectable families. The stigma of being associated with a pleasure house was so strong that if a girl went in one, she could never hope to be accepted in her own family, let alone get married.

“I know what you are thinking," the lady said gently. “That is why I brought you to the back gate where only those I trust live. No one will ever know your presence here and you can go back without a blemish tomorrow.” Sahithi found it hard to believe. “Yes, it will be hard to believe.” The lady said as if she had read her thoughts. “I did not gain such power just like that. It took a lot of effort, intelligence, time and investment. I am not a heartless woman.”

“Then why are you running an establishment that destroys the lives of girls? Why drag girls into a quagmire of lust where they wouldn’t be able to get out? Why?”

“Sit.” The lady said, showing Sahithi a queen-sized bed. Sahithi looked at her for a few moments, then, realising that she didn’t have a choice, sat down on the bed. “I came into this profession because I was made a devadasi in my village. Do you know who a devadasi is?” the pain in her voice startled Sahithi.

“Yes. I did read about them in my history books but I never met one. A devadasi is a woman dedicated to god and cannot marry, right?”

“Well, that is only half of it. Devadasi is supposed to be a dasi of god, the local deity. But it is an excuse to satisfy the lust of the men in the place; especially the influential and rich men. Do you know how a woman becomes a devadasi?”

“No. There weren’t many details and no one knew much about them. There were no devadasis in my town.” The lady looked at Sahithi as if she were looking at a mad woman. “If there are no devadasis, then your town must either be heaven or you escaped from a mental health asylum.”

“No, no. I am not mad!”

“Whatever. See, the crux of the matter is that I will never force any girl or woman to enter this trade. It is their choice to do or not to do.”

“Why would any girl in her senses want to become a plaything for men?” the lady took a deep breath.

“You are still young and naive, child. Judging by your clothes, you were brought up well. But, not every girl is so fortunate.”

“But, that doesn’t mean they choose a life that is nothing but hell. I can’t believe anyone would willingly enter a hell hole.”

“Circumstances and life teach what studies and parents cannot. Every life is different. Every person has a different experience. Every woman has some deep scar she wishes to forget.” She looked into Sahithi’s eyes with a look that startled her – it was the look of a woman forced to hide pain, forced to endure it for a lifetime. It was a gaze that was haunted by some horrifying experience, something that amazed Sahithi. It forced her to look at things from a new perspective. “I don’t know why I am telling you this; but trust me, I have never felt like this before in my life. I have never felt the need to reveal my life to anyone for the past 25 years.” She closed her eyes as if choosing her next words. “There is something in you that makes me want to pour my heart out. There is something in you that makes me want to trust you. Can I trust you?” she gave a look that shook Sahithi to the core – it was the look of a woman pleading, no, begging to be trusted. Despite herself, she nodded her head yes, which seemed to calm the woman down.

“It was the year 1656. I was 15 years old; old enough to get married.” The lady started her tale and Sahithi sat comfortably, ready to listen to the tale of an 83-year-old woman who ran a pleasure house.