Sold

Lakshmi’s stepfather brings her to the trader, Bajai Sita, explaining that Lakshmi wants to go work in the city. Bajai Sita fetches the city woman from the festival who previously offered to be Lakshmi’s “auntie.” Lakshmi’s stepfather says he wants 1,000 rupees for her, which shocks Lakshmi because she has not yet done any work to have earned such a huge sum of money. The woman says that because Lakshmi’s hips are too narrow and her looks are too plain, she will only give him 500 rupees. They argue until they finally settle on a price of 800 rupees, one half of which is paid now, and the other half of which will be withheld until Lakshmi proves herself. Auntie warns that Lakshmi’s family will not receive the rest of the money if Lakshmi disobeys at all. Immediately, her stepfather starts purchasing unnecessary items from Bajai Sita’s store like cigarettes, candy, wine, and more hats for himself. Lakshmi adds baby clothes, a coat for Ama, and a Coca-Cola.

Lakshmi parts ways with her stepfather, and the city woman, “Auntie,” leads her out of the village on foot toward the city. On the way, Lakshmi sees Krishna and wants to tell him where she’s going and ask him to wait for her, but Auntie does not allow it. They travel through three different villages on the first day, and already Lakshmi sees new things such as mail runners and gold teeth. She tries to memorize the path so she can visit home next year, but it is too much to remember. Lakshmi’s only possessions are some clothes, a few grooming items, her bedroll, and a notebook that her teacher gave her for being the best in the class. They walk for two more days and pass seven villages. Lakshmi recalls that while in school, she heard that the city has roofs made of gold, and she looks forward to seeing this when they arrive. Auntie tells Lakshmi what movies and movie stars are. Lakshmi asks if Auntie is a movie star, because she seems glamorous and scary. Auntie doesn’t answer, apparently becoming annoyed by Lakshmi’s questions.

At the ninth village, Auntie says they can ride the bus rather than walk the rest of the way; it is the first time that Lakshmi has ever seen a car or bus. They arrive in a city, where Lakshmi sees luxurious things like fruits, jewelry, and popcorn for sale, amidst crowds of people who don’t speak to each other. She learns that this is because they don’t know each other, not because they are angry. She searches for her friend Gita but learns that there is more than one city in the world, and they have not reached their final destination. The bus passes through six more cities. They stop in one place, and Auntie gives Lakshmi a fancy pink dress and shoes to wear. Lakshmi doesn’t understand how she will be able to do chores in this outfit. Lakshmi and Auntie meet up with a man who speaks to Auntie in a different language. He then asks Lakshmi in her own language how old she is, and when she replies that she is 13, he slaps Auntie, who apparently just said that Lakshmi is 12. The adults switch back to the other language and appear to be haggling. Finally, they settle on a price, and the man gives Auntie enough rupees to purchase a water buffalo.

Auntie leaves, and Lakshmi is alone with the stranger, which makes her nervous because of the rules her mother taught her. She hides under her shawl, but he offers her a sweet, so she takes it, not wanting to get slapped like Auntie, whose real name is Bimla, just did. The man says that Auntie will come back after he and Lakshmi cross the border together. He tells her that he will be like her uncle, but that she must pretend to be married to him when they reach the border, or otherwise, bad men with guns will hurt them both. Lakshmi does not like this man, whom she calls “Uncle Husband,” but is thankful to be protected from the supposedly evil border guards with guns. He gives Lakshmi more sweets on the way to the border, and Lakshmi tells the guard that this man is indeed her husband, so he lets them through. As a reward for lying, Uncle Husband gives her even more sweets. Lakshmi saves them and plans to mail them home to her mother.

Lakshmi and Uncle Husband get on a train. While he naps, she writes in her notebook about the strange new things she has seen, such as cell phones, the purpose of which she does not understand. They are now in India, and Uncle Husband warns Lakshmi not to speak to anyone, lest they find out that she is from the mountains and try to take advantage of her. She has been listening to conversations in the other language and writing down words that stick out to her, although she doesn’t know their meaning yet. Uncle Husband buys Lakshmi a roti (flatbread) from a man with a cart. The train stops so that the passengers can take a bathroom break outside, which no one except Lakshmi finds embarrassing. One girl tries to run away and is publicly shamed; her head is shaven so that if she runs away again, people will know where to bring her right back to. Uncle Husband warns that the same thing will happen to Lakshmi if she ever tries to escape.

When the train reaches its destination, Lakshmi is disappointed to see no golden roofs, no movie stars, and lots of people sleeping in the streets. Uncle Husband takes her to a building called “Happiness House,” where a bunch of girls in brightly-colored dresses, makeup, and jewelry are sleeping in late. Uncle Husband claims that Auntie Bimla will be here later, and that in the meantime, Auntie Mumtaz will explain things. Lakshmi hopes that this is a place for movie stars.

Mumtaz emerges and argues with Uncle Husband about money—he wants 15,000 rupees, but they settle on 10,000. Mumtaz then orders another woman named Shilpa to take Lakshmi to her bed. Lakshmi speaks to Shilpa, who does not respond, bringing her silently to a room and locking her inside. There is an electric light, a bed, a ceiling fan, and windows with iron bars across them. The room also has a hole in the floor for the privy, and one corner curtained off. Alone in the room, Lakshmi falls asleep.

Later, two other girls, Shahanna and Anita, come and let Lakshmi out, bringing her to a room with various other women and a few young children. Everyone is watching TV, something that Lakshmi has only heard about. Mumtaz appears and asks everyone questions in the other language, pinching Lakshmi. She leaves and the other girls start brushing Lakshmi’s hair and applying makeup to her, which Lakshmi has also never seen and doesn’t know how to do herself. Mumtaz asks if Lakshmi is ready to work, then brings her to a hallway lined with rooms. Lakshmi hears grunting from one room, then sees a man emerge and zip his pants. Mumtaz leads Lakshmi to an old man on a bed and tries to hold her down while the man kisses her. Lakshmi struggles to get away and finally succeeds, running back to her bedroom.