Aasha’s Story – From Bondage to Freedom

The following is the story (as told in her own words) of one woman who was rescued out of the sex slave industry in India.

Aasha

I was born in June 24th 1973 in one of the villages of Nepal. I was married to a boy when I was only 14 years-old. Right after my marriage my husband took me to India (Delhi). My husband always abused me saying my parents have not given him any dowry. One day my husband took me to a movie and after the movie he took me to a place where, without my knowledge, he sold me into a brothel. Later I was told that my husband had sold me for 90,000 rupies (approximately $1500).

In the brothels I was forced to wear short dresses and I was forced to sleep with many men everyday. Whenever I refused to do what they told me to do, they would shock me with electric current. Some times they would put me in containers and keep me in it the whole night. That’s how nine years of my life passed by in the cruel brothel of Mumbai.

One day I met a preacher who encouraged me a lot in the Lord. After hearing him I really wanted to change but didn’t know how I would be ever free from this hell. We lived in a very tall building of Mumbai. Everyday we would look from the top of the building to see if some help would come to rescue us. We tried to shout from the top of the building but it was of no avail. One day we saw one policeman walking down by our building so we planned to throw a bucket of water on him, thinking he would surely come up to find out who did it and that would be a way for us to pass the message to him of our captivity. After we threw the water, just as we thought, the policeman came up to check on who would do such a thing. We told the policeman all the truth about the brothels and told him how we have been trapped and tortured by the people. We ask the policeman to help us and by God’s grace he happened to be a Nepali man. When he knew I was a Nepali girl he felt for me and helped me to come out of that place. Not only me but 25 other girls also were rescued from the same brothel.

After I was rescued I went looking for the preacher who had told me about the Lord. I found him and got born again in July 2003. For my restoration I was taken to a jail where they tested my blood and found out I had HIV. After I was let go I came back to Nepal to my people. My family tried to remarry me to a boy. When I refused my own father tried to rape me. I was so frustrated that I decided to run away from my house.

After I came to Kathmandu I had nowhere to go so I lived on the streets for 9 months. One day a lady named Rosy Khadki took me to an NGO where I worked as a cook. I also got involved in taking care of the other HIV sisters. I was still not happy in that NGO because they would not allow me to go to any Church. I got so frustrated that I wanted die.

Later a sister (Nirmila) met me and told me about the Princess Home. She told me that Princess Home was run by some people who really believed in Jesus Christ. My heart was full of the joy again. This is what I was praying for. Now I am in the Princess Home and am very happy. Every day the Lord is helping me to see the purpose of my life. Now I go to Bible school in Princess Home, I go for tailoring training and I make many beads necklaces, bracelets and chokers. The Lord has allowed me to do things, which I never thought I could do before. This Home has done so much for me, that time will fail me to tell you everything. Above all I have found true parents in this home they are Dad Ranjit and Mom Sarah. Every one loves me and helps me. I want to thank every body who is so much involved to support me. Thank you for all your care and blessings. I will pray that the Lord will bless you and keep you.

Asha