The Pain Of.................................................

Under the influence of alcohol, bawdy jokes, bollywood music and the haze of smoke, somebody suggested visiting a dance bar. The ladies interest were piqued as they wanted to see what all the brouhaha was about, the men were excited. We drove through winding alleys, stumbled through a dark structure which housed the women one only read or heard about under hushed tones. A part of me entered the dimly-lit room filled with men wearing lecherous sneers while the other part wanted to run back home right then.

I hated the women, as they represented the lot that heaved and gyrated to music and earned a not-so-decent living, living off other women’s husbands’ hard-earned money, with absolutely no qualms. Under dim lights and layers of makeup they definitely looked beautiful and enticing. Would any man out there make a decent woman out of these women? Doubt it. I doubt these women would even want that, as they earn far more every night from a few heaves of cleavage and pelvic thrusts. Trust me, women like me would look far better in these very clothes, make up and dance routines, but would our men desire us the same way. The answer is "No”. As we represent Mother, child, friend to them and not a sexual fantasy anymore. Which is what draws men to the murkier side of life, the sexual fantasy.

I have been troubled by this murky underbelly of society. Yes, my heart goes out to those girls who are forced into the flesh trade. Definitely not these women, they choose the easy way out to earn money and definitely look like they are enjoying themselves with enough flesh exposed and heaving suggestively. So if any of them give me sob stories about a tough life, they may feel my fist in their face.

I thought I was made of sterner stuff to enter this world to watch women entice men. That night a part of me died. Whatever vicarious pleasure men get from it I have yet to conclude. I have been told by men it’s nothing, if so then why visit these places.. These women are not a patch on my sort, then why visit them. We’re not having sex with them, then why visit them. We do not intend to marry them, then why visit them. They have no answer.