Anjali Subedi

She is so beautiful that anyone would easily come under her spell. And she believes it is the same reason why she landed up in a brothel in Agra, India, before she was ultimately freed from a life in hell.

The story of Nilu Lama, 24, (name changed) resembles a bollywood flick where a hero appears to rescue the girl from the clutches of evil-doers, risking his own life. “Rashid used to come to me as a customer. But in the later days, he would not make any physical contact,” said Lama, who is from Dolakha district. 

“He would just ask why I was so sad and tearful all the time. I told him I hated my life and work and wanted to be free and back with my parents in Nepal,” said Lama. With the help of Rashid, who is Indian, she finally managed to flee from the brothel in the fouth attempt.Other 12 Nepalis, five of them minors, are still languishing in the same brothel, she said. 

Lama was 21 when two distant relatives approached and enticed her with a way to help her family out of poverty. She was told that she could make above Rs 20,000 per month if she worked in Lebanon and they could easily arrange this for her. However, after spending Rs 40,000 for a passport and other expenses, Lama ended up in a place worse than a nightmare. “After drinking some pomegranate juice they give me at Delhi airport I fainted. When I regained consciousness, I found myself in some dark corridor where I could see many other Nepali girls. They were in full make up and were dressed awkwardly. I soon realized that it was a brothel,” narrated Lama. “I protested. I shouted. I cried a lot. But nobody would listen. The brothel owner said there is no need to make a fuss since Nepali girls have been into it since ages and better that I learn the tricks sooner than later.”

Lama, sharing her story with media persons at Maiti Nepal on Monday, said four males were sent to ´teach her the lesson´. “Once I was used by those men, I cared little to defend myself. Life had become meaningless. That was until Rashid came along and told me that I could make a new start in life, and he would help me do so,” she said.With the help of the 22-year-old, Lama could not only cross the border back into Nepal but even reach her home and her parents in their village. “Rashid has asked them to take care of me until he comes back. On the way, he had even told me that he wanted to marry me but I was not ready for that. I needed to see my parents first,” Lama said smiling. 

After spending 12 days at home, Lama is now at Maiti Nepal for counseling and legal support for nabbing the culprits. Lama has severe injuries on parts of her body and burns to her chest inflicted by the female owner of the brothel. According to Anuradha Koirala at Maiti Nepal, information provided by Lama adds up and the agents involved in her trafficking would be held within matter of days.

Published on: 11 September 2012 | Republica