I'm Priya Sarkar, aged about 17 years and hindu by birth. I come from a family consisting of my father Sambhu Sarkar, my mother Saraswati Sarkar, three brothers and one sister. We lived in the village Jaitara in 24 parganas(N). I was the youngest among my brothers and sisters. My father had a collective earning from a cycle spare-parts shop, five generators on hire and monthly rents from three other shops besides the family business of puffed rice. My father left for Mumbai when I was only three years old, in search for a better job and better prospects.
My mother developed a relationship with one of my father's friends during his absence. Her marriage which was already under much strain broke up. My father remarried after three/four months and had two sons by this second marriage.
My father's cousin sister then took me away to the Andamans, citing better study prospects but she actually made me work in her home there as a maid servant for the next five years. I was then only nine years old and disillusioned as I was, I ultimately convinced my aunt to send me back to my father. On reaching my parental place, I once again got admitted to school and continued my studies till class V.
I was around 14 years and very immature and my step-mother would always physically abuse me. Oneday, one of my friend's mother took pity on me and offered me a job in Kolkata. I thus left my father's place only to be sold by that helping lady to another woman in Kestopur, a suburb of the city of Kolkata. That woman married me off to her impotent son, Dipankar Sarkar, who worked as a labourer with a local marble contractor. I had to live a life of torture and shame for the next two years.
Unable to tolerate the intense physical abuse, I ran away to my natal place but my father sent me back to my in-laws. I once again returned to my father's place and this time for good. My father in the meanwhile had built a house at Jaguli, 24 parganas(N) and I was much relieved to secure the work of a house maid in that area.
But fate had other strange things in store for me. My step-mother decded on a match for me with a 40 year old man who had already been married twice before and had a four year old daughter too. I ran away again to Hanspur on the pretext of visiting a mela. My elder brother brought me back from Hanspur but father was in no mood to give me shelter and threw me out of the home. I had no other alternative but to start looking for a domestic help job.
Nirapada Mondal, an elderly neighbour promised me to find a nurse's job in Kolkata. I trusted "Nirapada kaku" and his wife "Radha kaki" and accompanied him to his sister-in-law, Amala's house at Sovabazar, a famous red light area in the city of Kolkata, where I was sold again. I was thus forced into the sex trade from the very first day and had to entertain four to five clients each day. I stayed at the brothel for twelve to thirteen days, during which time I managed to build up a friendship with the cook who helped me to escape from that place. I managed to reach Habra station and ultimately join my home at Jaitara. Women's Interlink Foundation intervened at this point and with the help of the local police at Gaighata, brought me to NIJOLOY on 22.04.06.
The stay at NIJOLOY has been beneficial for me. I have managed to overcome my initial depression and tried to pursue my studies with renewed interest after the many counseling sessions during these three years.
I have been recently been promoted to class VIII. My interest in the finer arts, particularly dancing have culminated in successful stage performances with my friends under the guidance of "Shyamal Sir", our favourite dance teacher. I have also won prizes in recitation and sports at my school.
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