Amy and Sophie smiled excitedly at each other as the train drew into the station at Kolkata, the last stop of their back-packer's journey through India. They leaned out the window, taking in the now familiar chaos that was Indian rail transportation, an experience of its own. The hustle and bustle, the noise and the smells - they had fallen in love with it all. But, as with all good things, it was coming to an end.
By good luck or good design the train stopped such that their carriage was directly opposite a teen with a pedo-cab. As they alighted he quickly rushed up to them. Pushing other people out of the way he grabbed their packs. "Ah, you come with me, I am your guide. I'm Joe. This way, this way," he said, magically clearing a path for them.
"You see other people here but I am best, you see" he said with an engaging smile. He threw their packs in the back of his pedo-cab and jumped into the saddle. "Ladies, I have champagne for you," he said popping the cork on a bottle and pouring them a glass each which they took, then toasted each other. Cold champagne in the hot Indian afternoon, what could be better.
And Joe was as good as his word. They had a few hours to kill so he took them to all the popular sites and some spectacular places that they had never heard of, all the while making them laugh with his stories and wearing a happy smile. The champagne was beautiful, and as the day drew to an end, the girls were more than happy and relaxed.
"You not far from the airport now. We are in plenty of time," he said. "Stay with me, I just have to drop in and see my uncle Dev." And with that, he turned off into a side street then took a quick left again, and it was as if they were in a different world. The glitz and glamour of the wide, open main street was replaced by a darker, narrow street. There were many young children gathered in the street kicking a football and they all moved out of the way as Joe pedalled through. But there was one older lad that caught Amy and Sophie's eye. As they went past he leered at them and nonchalantly grabbed his crotch before making a circle with his thumb and forefinger with one hand and pushing a finger of his other hand through, simulating sex. They had seen worse but for some reason they both felt a cold shiver up their spine. They knew India could be a rough place for women.
They went 50 metres further down the street before Joe pulled up at the back of a shop. "You come with me," he said. "This not a good place to leave two ladies. My uncle is powerful man so you in no danger with me here but if I leave you for one minute, no more, I would come back and these urchins would kidnap you and drag you away before I returned. Brothel around corner, sell boys and girls. Big boy, he is the, um, pimp I think you call it, bad man. You come please," he said, taking their bags out of the back with him, his voice and manner serious. And both girls were more than happy to follow him. Amy shuddered as she looked over her shoulder, the taller boy was still looking at her, leering.
His uncle's shop was a jewellery shop.
"Ah Joe, so pleased to see you," he said, jovially coming around from behind the counter to give his nephew a hug. "And who are these lovely ladies you have with you?" he enquired. While Joe made the introductions, the two security guards closed and locked the front and back doors.
"Come, look at some of my jewellery," Dev said.
"Ah, no, look I think someone has the wrong idea here," said Amy. "We're not looking for jewellery and we've got no money left to buy anything anyway, so Joe, can you simply take us to the airport now, please," she said, turning to Joe.
"No, ladies, you must have the wrong idea. I'm not trying to sell you anything," Dev said, a slow smile spreading across his face. The room fell silent and the mood was tense. Neither girl noticed the security guards were now much closer. Dev snapped his fingers at Joe, who immediately pulled out two passports and handed them to Dev.
"Hey, those are ours," said Amy. "How did you get them, give them back now," she demanded. Sophie nervously shuffled closer to Amy.
"All in good time, all in good time, ladies. But I just want you to do a little favour for me. That's not much to ask for all Joe's time, is it? All I want is for you to carry a small package of jewellery home with you and my young nephew will pick it up from you."
"Yeah, bullshit, drugs is what you're into. We're not fucking idiots. Give me our passports, we're out of here," Amy demanded, holding out her hand.
"Ah dear, if only it was that simple," said Dev. "Drugs, jewellery, what does it matter to you? See, the problem is that you now know about our operation. So, if you're not taking our jewellery in your bags, then who knows who you might want to tell."
"We don't care, we won't tell anyone," said Amy nervously. This was quickly getting out of hand.
"Oh, I know you won't," said Dev laughing, as he took a pronounced look at his watch. "Still plenty of time for your flight," he said. "But unless you agree to take our packages then you will never see your passports again. If you are of no good to us then my guards will simply shove you out the back door. Two pretty girls, alone in this neighbourhood at night. By the time the urchins outside have finished with you, then, no, I don't think you will be speaking to any authorities about me. I think if you want to ever go home again there is only one way: my way." All the men laughed, they had seen it all before.
Sophie moved closer to Amy and placed a trembling hand on her arm, hoping for some sort of protection. She had a vivid picture in her mind of the pimp that they passed earlier and understood the implications of what Dev said. She could feel the heat burning behind her eyes as she prayed for Amy to save them.
Sophie pulled Amy to face her. As she did, the tears she was holding back flowed down her cheeks.
"Oh my god Amy, we don't have any option; we've got to get home," she whispered in a voice almost too soft for anyone to hear.
"Do you know what this means? Do you know what you are suggesting? Do you understand the risks? Do you know what happens if we are caught? It means jail. Can't you see that," Amy growled angrily at Sophie, as much in fear as in frustration at the hopeless situation they were in.
"But it's better than being forced into a brothel," she cried, looking forlornly at Amy.
