Red Skirt Prostitute

Nangsa never thought her life would end that way. Even she held the heart like ours. She wished a normal life like everyone else. She wasn’t into prostitution just like that. It wasn’t her passion. But unfavourable situation forced her into this business. She didn’t have any options. It was her choice. She couldn’t see the pain overcoming her family. Her father died few years ago. Mom was seriously ill. She was the eldest and responsibilities were on her shoulder to look after the siblings. She wanted her younger brother and sister to prosper. She wished them to complete their studies unlike her.

She thought that if her sacrifice brings joy in her family then she was ready to do anything. Her thoughts were all pure to make herself impure first. She moved boldly. She remained firm in her decision. She didn’t give a second thought. Now money was everything for her to keep the family functioning. Besides she needed to pay huge debts that her parents borrowed from the neighbours. She even thought that for how long the relatives will look after them. They had huge family too. So in pursuit of her family’s happiness, she landed in that brothel. By then she was only eighteen years old.

She felt embarrassed to do such dirty job at beginning but she kept consoling herself. Time moved on quickly and she never felt the same like before. Everything became normal. She was into her regular work. She never felt alone as she gained a couple of close friends. Nangsa was known for her beauty. She slept with thousands of men and earned a lot. Her bank balance kept increasing. That brought happiness to her heart and mind. There was a great satisfaction and huge relief in her. She dreamt big for her family who were miles away from the city. She dreamt that someday she might be able to return positively and wished to spend the remaining days of her life with them.

Though it was tough time to get leave for a day but she managed always. She visited her family once a week. She bore all the expenditures at home. She saw her brother and sister growing. She took her mother to a well known hospital for the treatment. She could finally pay all the debts. There was a circle of joy everywhere within her. She took her family for a dinner at luxurious hotel every time she was there. Then next morning she would always make an excuse of returning to a work. In that way she escaped all the time. Her whereabouts was unknown to her family. She would never speak a word about it.

Seasons changed. Time moved swiftly. Prostitutes waited for the thirsty customers. Their work was all over same just to entertain them well enough. Some customers were like monsters. They tortured and hurt the whores. They behaved unkind to many. But a prostitute needed to bear everything after all they were handsomely paid by their customers. So at times life was difficult but there wasn’t any measure then to go with the flow. Red skirt prostitute felt the same thing.

That day she didn’t go home thinking her family would know about her scars though she longed to see them deeply. She just dialed her mom and talked over the phone. She missed her brother and sister very badly. One thing she never forgot that was to send them money. She gave almost all her earnings. She simply kept little. She was happy with it. That very night a heart breaking pain visited from nowhere and made her to cry a lot. She wept the whole night all alone until tears failed to come out from eyes. If only one knew what she was undergoing deeply…The red skirt prostitute was tired and mentally exhausted but the poor lady made a following sincere aspiration: The poor lady was mentally exhausted. She looked through the window pane and saw the queen moon ruling the night. Then she made a sincere aspiration:

I know I’m the creator of all my sufferings

But through it may I always give joy for others

May I be of much benefit for others

Hopefully if better days are there tomorrow

Then let my friends and I reap from it

For we are the sole earner of our family

We give more to them and keep little ourselves

In that way our lives go by.

Oh Lord! If you are still there

Listening to this whore’s words

Then save us from this dungeon…

Next day there was a knock on the door. Nangsa was into a deep sleep. The man angrily knocked several times. Her cell phone was in silent mode. That eerie man lost his patience and banged the door loudly. She woke up suddenly and dashed to open the door. There was a tall handsome guy of her age leaning against the wall. He was neither American nor African. Probably he must have belonged to one of Asian countries. With her folded hands she begged sorry for delaying in opening the door. The man didn’t speak a word. He just slipped in directly and sat on the couch. She lashed the door quickly. She hesitantly removed her clothes and was standing naked in front of him. She couldn’t look directly at him. She wasn’t prepared. She remained silent with her drooping head.

He smiled and saw the woman who was already tortured. Pain was there everywhere within her. That nearly brought tears in his eyes. He helplessly covered her with the bed sheet and told to get dress. Then he saw the much prettier lady again and hugged her. He gave her few dollars that he had and came out from the room. So many thoughts floated over him and he was overweighed by sadness. He passed the hallways where he witnessed many helpless innocent souls like her. That very night the gentleman paid everything and took Nangsa for a dinner. For the first time she foresaw her freedom. She felt a deep sigh of relief. She thanked God for bringing this joyous moment as this was the first time a man treated nicely to her besides her late dad. She prayed for better days for her friends too.

That night was the final time Tandin met red skirt prostitute. She spoke little English and belonged to a brothel in Bangkok. Some said that she left working as a whore. Others said that she was offered a good job somewhere. Still others said that she was around. But the fact is there are still so many red skirt prostitutes like her in this world. So every whore has a tale like ours. Treat them humanely and please respect them. Remember we see our daughters, sisters, wives and mothers in those courtesans…