Yesterday was an eye opener for me. The girls working there were from the North East. Young, away from home for a living, the owner and his wife gave them a room to stay - and it is more like home away from home, according to the girls. But the problem begins with the local men, around this area, who come for facials and other beauty treatments. It is a unisex parlour - but for many, the name unisex, means a lot more than that.
A girl seemed scared yesterday - she has been handed over Rs.500 as a tip for a facial. She was worried if the man would ask her to do anything more. But it was a customer after all. Her friend who was giving me a head massage told me, "these things are common Didi...they think, we are dirty girls, because we are not from here." Sometimes during head massages, men hold their hands to show where they need to massage. Sometimes, they request for chest massages during facials. Sometimes, an overwhelming tip like yesterday, leave them in the fear that they could be asked something more than the facial.
I told the girl to talk to the owner. She said, they do complain to him, and sometimes, he sits with them during head massages. But for facials which are done in a small room, there is hidden trouble. She also fears, a local could probably harass them and get the place closed down. She also fears, she would lose the monthly income sent to her family. She looked helpless, but she seemed to think this was how her life was meant to be.
What is really with the world, I think? As I was paying and getting out, I saw this man, who had gotten a complexion enhancement facial - behind his dark face, and eyes, there seemed to be an emotion that I seemed to recognise. The one that we as women see everyday on the streets - of lust, of raping women with eyes, of wondering what lies beneath our clothes.
I thought to myself, workplace, streets, buses, trains...we have no escape sister.
Today, you. Tomorrow, me.
