Sharada asserts herself everywhere------including her workplace---

Dear readers, out of thousands of female sex workers with whom I interacted and listened to their life stories, Sharada stands out as an outstanding woman. She was principled and fought against injustice everywhere.

Once she accepted a customer who was lame and looked unattractive. He promised to pay her more fees because of his inability to attract women and even get married. Sharada understood his difficulties and decided to satisfy his needs for sexual gratifications.

When she took him to a guest house, the manager refused entry. He told her not to bring such ugly handicapped customers to his lodge any more lest he will lose other customers. 

Sharada was infuriated. She shouted at the manager and asked him is this lodge only for Film Heros? She also threatened him that she will approach the police station and lodge a complaint against him for discrimination and harassment of handicapped people. The manager was annoyed but he did not want police harassment as well.  Sharada had already booked the room for practice and had the receipt with her. She asserted her right to practice and succeeded. The customer was overwhelmed. He gave her more money and promised to continue friendship thereafter. 

When Sharada narrated this story, I too was overwhelmed. It was not easy for a sex worker to fight for the rights of the customer and herself in an environment where the sex workers were treated like dirt and no one thought they were citizens of India.