SHIVANI: THE PRICE OF SURVIVAL

One evening, Saroja asked Shivani whether she wanted to accompany her while she went to meet a regular client.

Shivani agreed because she wanted to understand the work before making any decisions about her own future.

Outside Priya Lodge, the street was crowded with vehicles, pedestrians, and people returning from work. Shivani stood beside Saroja, wearing a traditional outfit and feeling painfully conspicuous.

Saroja explained how she evaluated prospective clients, discussed expectations, and recognized situations that felt unsafe.

“Never mistake desperation for an obligation,” she said. “You can refuse an encounter. You can change your mind.”

A man approached and began asking questions. Shivani struggled to answer confidently. He seemed impatient, and she felt herself becoming increasingly anxious.

Saroja noticed.

“She is not interested,” Saroja said firmly, ending the conversation.

When the man walked away, Shivani looked at her.

“You didn't even let me answer.”

“I could see that you were uncomfortable,” Saroja replied. “Learning to make your own decisions takes practice. But you must never believe that you owe someone access to yourself because you need money.”

The words remained with Shivani throughout the evening.

She had arrived in Mumbai believing that survival meant doing whatever other people demanded. Now she was beginning to see that survival also required protecting herself.

That night, she returned to her room without meeting a customer.

For the first time, she did not feel that the evening had been wasted.

She had learned something more valuable than a technique for earning money: the right to say no.