The gripping and terrifying novel Sold follows the life of a young thirteen year old girl, named Lakshimi, as she gets sold into sex slavery by her own father. Lakshimi begins her life growing up in Nepal much like many other girls of her time. She lives with her step father, mother, and baby brother. All her family wants is the simple things in life, but as Lakshimi’s step father gambles away all their money, they are desperately poor. Because of this, Lakshimi’s step father is constantly threatening to sell her away for money for the family, but the love from her mother protects her. Yet one time this doesn’t stand up quite strong enough and Lakshimi gets sold to a women referred to in the book as “auntie”. Both Lakshimi and her family are under the impression that when she goes with this women to the city she will become a maid and money will be sent back to her family. Lakshimi is very excited and happy to help out her family and one day return to them having given them a better life.
Many girls all over the world are being tricked into thinking much the same thing. They are told that if she go to the city they can be a maid and help support their family. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth.
For weeks Lakshimi travels with Auntie to the city. One day Auntie sells her to another man Lakshimi calls “Uncle Husband”. Uncle Husband and Lakshimi travel for weeks more, crossing borders illegally by claiming they are married. Lakshimi doesn’t understand quite what is going on, but she is too swept up by the exciting and scary nature of the passing cities. Lastly, Uncle Husband and Lakshimi land in one of the largest cities in Nepal. Unknowingly to Lakshimi, she gets sold to a large brothel where she will most likely spend the rest of her life.
This trip is continuing being traveled by hundreds right now. These people are not tourists, but rather children walking into a never ending trap of hell.
The brothel was run by a women named “Mumtaz”. First Lakshimi gets brand new clothing and she cannot understand how she can do maid work in such nice articles. But this question gets covered up when she is brought into a room with a man who tries to take advantage of her. Unfortunately, Lakshimi makes it nearly impossible to do so. Why unfortunately? Because due to this she gets locked up in a cage of a room without food or company. Weeks pass and Lakshimi begins to go mad. It is explained to her that she owes Mumtaz thousand of dollars and must pay her back by doing this work. Once the money is paid off she may go home. Lakshimi sees know other choice.
This decision is given to many kids right now. And although it seems like the worst choice in the world to agree to sell your innocence and your life, the only other option is definite death.
Once Lakshimi proved herself loyal she was given the privilege to live in a public room. Although she was now living with other girls where friendships were made, it was still an empty life. In this new bedroom there were four beds separated by sheets hanging which were drawn back when “visitors” came. Occasionally she could sneak a condom in from other girls, but men rarely agreed to wear them. Because of this she had to wash herself after each visitor with water to prevent sickness and infections. But as we know quite well today, this does not work. Heavy makeup was worn daily to make the men even more attracted to the girls. The girls would do anything they could to get as many costumers as possible. Soon Lakshimi finds out that Mumtaz lied to her and that she will be living there forever. The only hope of leaving was if she came down with a terrible sickness or grew too old to work. Only then she would be sold to another brothel or thrown out on the street to meet her death.
Although these two things seem like the only option for freedom a third one meets her face to face one day. American men raid the brothel, taking as many girls as possible. One of these girls is Lakshimi. It is then understood by the reader that that Lakshimi was taken to a safe shelter where she could get a help and have the hope of a new life.
Although this may seem like a mere summary of a fictional novel I read, it is much more than that. Months of research went into creating this book to make it as realistic as humanly possible. Thus this story is the same as thousands of girls across the world. It was a privilege to be able to step inside this world and live through this horrible experience as many are at this moment.
