I was born in India but my father’s health was bad so we moved back to his hometown in Nepal, father died 1-2 years later and Mom remarried. I moved to stay with my uncle and aunt who had five children. My cousins were going to school so I wanted to as well but they told me, we’re feeding you, isn’t that enough.

I used to work in the fields and the farm to earn something so I didn’t have to listen to their taunts and forced my way to studying till class 8, because schooling was free.

To study further, fees were required, I was only 14 at the time and they said that they wouldn’t pay and they would marry me off so I ran away. I went to my brother in law’s wife and they asked me to move to India with them where they had a shoe shop. I thought a lot and eventually agreed to move with them and they took me to India. After coming here, I found out the truth and they told me that I had to prostitute.

I was furious, and I told them I’m going to the police, they said that the police would lock me up because I was already here in the red-light district and they would arrest me instead.

I was afraid and didn’t know what to do, they kept me locked there for a few days and then I realized that I had nowhere to go. My family wouldn’t accept me there.

I started doing that work because I didn’t see a way out, and it was my worst nightmare, If we ever refused to be with the clients the pimps and madams would tie our legs, beat us, drug us and would even burn us with cigarettes, I still have the scars on my body to show it.

There were organizations who would come to the brothels to give us sanitary items like condoms, Ani-septic liquids and sanitary napkins. One of their workers told the madam that I looked young and I shouldn’t be working here. My elder sister and her husband kept me in their home for a month and conditioned me, that next time I should threaten them by saying that, I would commit suicide and blame them for it.

I was there for four years before a police raid was conducted. They took me to a shelter home that wasn’t well equipped and the girls rioted there. I was told that in order to leave the shelter, I just had to say that I was doing this willingly and I would be released. I didn’t want to but they threatened me, so I did so and I was released after paying 500rs fine. The previous brothel was closed down so they moved me to another, and a year later, to another.

I wanted to leave but they wouldn’t let me, and the abuse just kept getting worse, it had been over 6 years and finally Rescue Foundation did a rescue operation with the police. They had hidden us in a secret cell under the floor but there was a customer who was actually an investigator, he saw it and we were rescued.

I was still scared, after the previous experience, I was still conditioned to say I was doing this willingly but Rescue Foundation’s counselors spoke with me, after meeting them and talking to them, I felt like they could help me so I came with them to Mumbai.

After coming here, I saw all the girls here, and all the opportunities these girls had to learn and grow. I signed up for all the classes and training’s and today I am a leader for the girls.

With the Foundations helps, I have grown a lot, I even began working at a partner organization where I learned various skills. Then I was given the responsibility of working in the reception where I answer calls and transfer them, greet visitors and maintain lists, manage donations that come in and later on I was asked to also take classes 2 months later, I am their ‘Teacher’ during class and ‘didi’ after, I have never felt prouder.

I am determined to live the life I deserve and I also want to help girls like me, show them that their past wasn’t in their control, but now it is and they no longer need to be afraid, they are not just survivors, they are warriors.