Violence to protest against Violence?

As the public outrage against the brutal gangrape of the 23 year old continues, we have all seen one common mode of protest come to the fore - the so called "candlelight vigils" or "candlelight marches".

However, unlike the very nature of this mode of protest, the recent candlelight marches have turned violent. We see the news of water cannons, tear gas and lathicharges during these protests. We hear the statistics of civilians and police personnel injured, even 1 casualty in the case of police officer Tomar. But, the instant reaction is to hold the police responsible; without giving a thought as to why would police resort to such measures unnecessarily. There have been protests earlier, why didn't the police then use such measures in all protests, deterring the people in a democracy from exercising their right to freedom of speech. Or is it the case that this time over we are doing something wrong and the police is forced to resort to such extreme measures?

Don't get me wrong, I am not supporting the police force in Delhi or anywhere in India, for that matter. The law and order situation is all time worse than ever before. But I also feel that this time round, we are doing it all wrong. To protest against the pathetic law and order conditions, we are taking law in our hands. To protest against violence against women and children, we are becoming violent. We are not respecting the fact that peaceful but determined and patient protests get more things done. Only we need to be persistent and consistent. That is the nature of "candlelight marches". The candles are supposed to symbolize the awakening and knowledge and not anguish, even if it is rightly justified. Also, I am slightly curious as to why most protests which turn violent have the name of Baba Ramdev associated with them somehow.

Also, I think that these "candlelight marches" are becoming more of a fad instead of people understanding their real essence. I recently attended one such protest organized by a RWA, and was disheartened to see that the people around me were more interested in getting their pictures clicked and holding the best looking banner / placard. Slowly, the protest turned anti-Congress and was lambasting Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Manmohan Singh. Now, I am not a Congress supporter, but I think that making insinuations against 2 people is outrageous when we know that it's the society at large which needs to change.

Maybe we need to think this over...

We want justice!!

Hang them! Kill them! Lynch them! Whatever you do, justice would still not be served.

As if rape was not enough to ruin the life of a 23-year old medical student who was gang raped by 7 inebriated monsters on the busy streets of South Delhi; the unnerving, hateful and demonic brutality of the heinous act has left her no hope of normality ever again. Even thinking about the whole episode sends a chill down everyone's spine and to think of it, the poor unsuspecting girl actually lived through the horror.

Is it wrong to silently pray to God to take her in his arms; to relieve her of the pain and suffering; to take away the constant reminder of a normal life she could have had but is never going to have? Is it harsh of my heart to hope that we don't have another Aruna Shaunbaug in India? When the furore dies down and the accused people's trial slowly crawls and creeps in the court, the supporters of the girl and the media will just get along with their daily lives but this girl will be living a half life - bedridden and constantly on intravenous fluids because she would never be able to eat normally. Would she not then lie in bed every day of her life reminded of the ghastly and heinous experience? Honestly, when I think about that, I feel Aruna is in a slightly better off position as she is devoid of any feeling and consciousness owing to being in a vegetative state. What lies ahead for this girl, IFF she survives, is far worse than that. Hence, a silent prayer leaves my heart for her.

Having said that I am very much in favour of the suggestion regarding fast track courts which passes judgement in such cases within 15 days of reporting - before anger subsides and before indifference sets in -  unlike the normal cases which could take years to reach judgment. For, I do believe that justice delayed is equivalent to justice denied.

Now, I am just hoping that the public outrage for this unfortunate girl gets a change not just in the legal system but also a cultural shift in the society which currently places the onus of safety on the females than the males. And why do we women accept that? Because who would know better than us that this is one place where there is no room for error.

What I believe

In the infinity of life where I am,
all is perfect, whole, and complete.
I believe in a power far greater than I am
that flows through me every moment of every day.
I open myself to the wisdom within,
knowing that there is only One Intelligence in this Universe.
Out of this One Intelligence comes all the answers,
all the solutions, all the healings, all the new creations.
I trust this Power and Intelligence,
knowing that whatever I need to know is revealed to me,
and that whatever I need comes to me
in the right time, space, and sequence.
All is well in my world.

        - Louise L. Hay, You can heal your Life

I can totally agree with this...

Just some thoughts...

Off late, there have been quite a few incidents in the news, which have invoked me to think. Although I haven't been able to express my views about all of them through individual posts, I want to collect some of them here.
The first thing that comes to my mind is the Guwahati incident where a teenage girl was publicly molested and stripped down by a mob for about 30 to 45 minutes before she got any help. Needless to say that the incident is horrific and it's hard to even imagine what the poor girl would have gone through. Now, I don't know what might have instigated the mob and probably nobody would ever know the real chronology of events but I think nothing gives those men the right to act like that. Also, the episode happened in front of a camera and the whole thing was filmed. I don't know who did it, whether Mr. Neog, the journalist who filmed it actually instigated the mob or not, and irrespective of the fact that inadvertently it brought the incident to light and may even help in bringing the culprits to justice but I just simply cannot imagine that the person filming it had such angelic intentions. The first task should have been to help the girl or call for help assuming that the people around might not have intervened themselves in light of the Mumbai killings in a similar incident last year. What also aggravated my disgust and anguish at the incident is some of the remarks made by certain people about the whole episode in their attempt to decrease the severity of the heinous and barbaric act committed by those animals. Mr. Tarun Gogoi, the CM himself, for example, said that the pub is frequented by prostitutes. I would like to ask him whether this gives those immoral people the right to publicly molest any girl who happened to be there. To hell, EVEN PROSTITUTES HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY "NO". I really am at a loss to put my disgust and anguish in words. And my heart aches for the poor girl when I see those pictures on TV or net. I pray to God to give her strength and courage to overcome this all and lead a normal life. The least we can do anything for her is to bring the culprits to justice real soon and not embroil her in the typical Indian beaurocracy. And please for God's sake don't raise questions on her character.
The second incident is about the mob who went berserk in the Maruti plant in Manesar. Again, what gave them the right to take law in their own hands and kill people. If they have a complaint, there are better ways to address them. There is no argument that cannot be sorted out by talking. Vandalism is unacceptable and what is even more unacceptable is injuring and killing fellow humans.
And all this happened while the talks were on. In one fit of madness, or probably an orchestrated act of violence, the labour union mob barged into the board room, assaulted senior executives and burnt the building down. Avanish Kumar Dev, a senior HR executive was assaulted with iron rods, both his legs were badly fractured and he was left there to be burnt alive. The mob not only brought an innocent life to an abrupt end but ruined a family, killed a 17 year old child's youth by taking away from him his father's love and care. This is absolutely unjustified and unfair. The labour union cannot justify this by citing perpetration.
Another incident in another part of the world got media (and my) attention. Google's executive, Marissa Mayer got the high profile job of Yahoo's CEO, leaving behind the biggest contender, the acting CEO, Ross Levinsohn. She joins the wafer thin list of female senior executives in the silicon valley. But that is not what is really interesting. The really interesting bit is around Marissa being all of 37 and currently pregnant. I can bet that no management in India would have hired her for the top position. Especially when you have a once-on-top-now-struggling company to turn around and that too very quickly. And what's more, she is one of the highest paid honchos in the world. Marissa's story fills me with hope and she certainly makes all working and professional women proud.
In the end, I would just like to make a small prayer for two superstars of their respective leagues, Mr. Dara Singh and Mr. Rajesh Khanna. In their death, I was reminded how glorious their past was and how captivating their aura. May their souls rest in peace.

Inspirational quote from Michael Jordan

Cherish all your moments...

I've seen castles made out of sand,
Met people who believe destiny is engraved on the palms of their hands..
I've seen people change their faith,
Experienced love change into hate..
I've seen people grow younger with age,
And a bird that wouldn't fly out of an open cage..
I've seen love sold for money,
People devastated inside but outside they are funny..
I've learned to expect the unexpected,
Perfection doesn't exist, we are all defected..
Someone may believe you are one in million,
For others you are just another nobody in billion..
So live your life with all that you have,
Cherish all your moments happy or sad.

- Anonymous

Success is subjective

A few days ago I met someone who was doing an assignment for me. And as is the case with people in middle age, the conversation became laced with philosophy every now and then.

While on the topic of middle aged people, I fail to understand why people in their early/mid forties tend to discuss life's bigger introspections whenever they are having a chat with someone in his/her thirties. Is it to showcase their superior experience in life or simply to highlight that being senior in age gives them the right to sermon on their own (supposedly superior) wisdom on life. What I understand otherwise is that experience and wisdom come not with age but by being absorbant of all you learn on a daily basis. The more you absorb, the more mature and wise you are.

Anyway, coming back to philosophy. The discussion that day tended in the direction of "success". He opined that he is successful because he is very content in life. He is satisfied with whatever he had achieved till date and is okay if he continues in the same comfortable situation in life. He then went on to explain to me how he had achieved his success, some things about single point of focus (how he focuses only at the job in hand), taking frequent short breaks, etc.; most of which I did not listen. I did not listen because I was still stuck at his definition of success. So, I sat there just nodding my head at intervals and saying "yeahs" and "rights" off and on, still introspecting on my own definition of success.

I continued to ponder on this for a few days and finally collected my thoughts on "success". I feel that success is really subjective, and everyone looks at it from his/her own perspective. So some people measure it with how much money they have amassed, some with how many rungs of the organisational ladder they have climbed, and some others with their own notion of "satisfaction" and "contentedness". This person I was talking about feels he is successful because he is "satisfied" with no further desires in life.

Now, how do I feel about success? Do I consider myself successful? Obviously, I am going to talk about that. Why else would I write paragraphs about something which most people understand anyway? I think I am happy and satisfied with whatever I have achieved till date but I am far from done yet. I feel that the day I am left without any ambition in life, I would feel stifled (then again if this gentleman wants to continue in the same comfortable situation in life, would that not count as some form of ambition?) I do not yet know where exactly I want to be placed say 5 or 10 years from now, but I sure as hell know that I intend to continue moving forward in my efforts to ensure a better quality of life for my daughter and my family in any phase of my life or career. One should always try to ensure that the future is better than today. This cannot always be ensured by earning increments and promotions. Sometimes it's about making time for family, pursuing a hobby that makes you happy, or simply by taking an early retirement to fulfil your long lost desires. The idea is to gain happiness. Happiness is infectious. When you yourself are happy, you tend to radiate it all around you and the people around you catch it as if it's contagious. So, then success, for me, is anything and everything that makes you and the people around you happy.

That - happiness - is the long and short of every goal you make for yourself in life.

Getting married? Please read my warnings list first...

Disclaimer:

1. What you may read through in this article is strictly my personal opinion, based out of my personal experience and may not be applicable to some or all girls. However, I would still recommend caution; not in following my advice, but rather in NOT following my advice.

2. I am no Aamir Khan. So, please don't expect a dramatic portrayal of prevalent problems in the society, complete with statistics, present and future impacts and disturbing questions without ready solutions. What you may read through is desensitized practical problems that may be faced in any marriage, in any culture or society; and not necessarily restricted to the INDIAN context. Hope it proves to be a refreshing change from SATYAMEV JAYATE (without prejudice to the awesome reality TV show).

That day a friend informed me that she might be getting married soon to her long time boyfriend. And so started a spate of all the 'girlie' talk about shopping, engagement, honeymoon destination, etc. During our never ending bursts of ideas, I realized that most of us well-educated, decent and upright girls of upper middle class families have been brought-up and taught modesty to the hilt. So much so that we might be content to subdue our desires for the biggest day of our lives but would not under any circumstances go ahead and express them to our would-be husbands lest we be taken as any less self-respecting girls than we really are. Not even if that would-be husband is a long time boyfriend and knows you inside out anyway. I was like that (although mine was an arranged marriage). And now I am seeing my friend behave in the similar way. So, what do I do? Try to pump in some sense in my friend? I won't bet my dollars on it knowing well how it is with 'independent' girls of the day.

So I promised her a list of things to keep in mind while starting a matrimonial relationship, even if just for keepsakes (and commenting years later, "Ah! She was right. I wish I would have followed her advice"). Here goes the list:

1. Shun Modesty: Of course, this has got to be my first advice. After all, this is where it all started. So, go ahead and ask him for some of the things you like, e.g. that beautiful engagement ring you saw somewhere and still secretly dream about; that awesome (and darn costly) pair of heels you saw and are unable to get out of your head; the perfect dinner date you have been envisaging for years since you entered your teens; etc. Don't feel shy. Don't think it's against your self-respect. Make it as obvious as it's your first right on him. Now, don't be fooled into thinking that all your demands will be fulfilled. But, unless you say it, be assured that none of them will be fulfilled. Because at the end of the day, a 'man who understands you perfectly and gauges your thoughts and desires before you mutter them' is actually a myth, no matter how much time and effort you may have already invested in your relationship. There is no such man on earth. A man, once he assures himself that he is in a relationship with someone and would like to spend his life with that person, DOES NOT put in any further thought in the relationship, unlike a woman. He simply assumes that now that the two of you are together, you are comfortable enough to tell him anything and everything that is going on in your mind. And, eventually, he usually doesn't make any effort to try and guess that on his own.

2. Financial Segregation: One of the most important advice I have for working women, is to try and RETAIN your financial independence. Often it happens that after you get married, you think that whatever both of you are earning is a common pool and hence do not care whose salary goes into what. Don't do that. Compulsorily save some part of your Salary. If you want to contribute to household expenditures, do it but fix an amount of monthly contribution, an upper limit and try to adhere to it. And restrict access to the remaining amount with yourself (don't have Add-on cards linked to your accounts, don't pass on account / netbanking / ATM pin details, etc.) Don't say to your husband that you don't want to give him access to your money, but politely tell him that you want to save some amount for the 'extreme emergency' situations. And eventually, let 'extreme emergency' situations remain 'extreme'. Don't find excuses to use that amount. e.g. that special gift on 'his' birthday, down-payment of the big car he wants to buy, etc. The golden rule to use that amount is whether or not the so-called 'emergency' puts your or any family member's life at stake. Unless so, don't touch that amount. You will thank your stars if, God forbid, a life-threatening situation does emerge. Besides, this amount add loads to your financial security as sub-consciously you are always aware that there are funds that are lying somewhere and are solely at YOUR disposal.

3. Logical Security: Don't ever share your email, SNS, personal system passwords with him. You trust him? Great! You KNOW he will not misuse it? Perfect! But, I would still advice you to not do that. Our elders taught us that a 'personal diary' should be personal and should be accessible only to the owner. Email accounts, SNS accounts, personal systems and laptops are not  much different. They hold a lot of personal information and it is a fact that most reasons for discord in day-to-day living are being caused by these. One may ask, if I have a public profile and everything is visible to most people, why do we need to take such precautions. But my point is that your husband may not use the passwords shared by you at all; even despite that, him having the power to do all that puts you on a back-foot as compared to being aware that your account is safe in your hands.

4. Trust with caution: Your husband is such a great guy that he has no eyes for any girl except you? Congrats, you just might be the one of the lucky few ending up with a prized catch. But as I said before, such a man is a myth. He doesn't exist.So, even if you are not an overtly possessive, perpetually nagging b**** for a wife, there is no harm in being a cautious, concerned and a generally aware wife. So, just keep a track of where your husband has been when you were not around. What has he been up to? Who all his friends are? How he likes to spend his time alone? How many girls are there in his acquaintances? What kind of a relationship does he share with them? Is there someone with whom he might be far too comfortable with, for your own comfort? Never ever let him have a feeling that he may do something without you finding it out sooner or later. Trust me, this is the most important aspect to make your relationship long-lasting.

5. Be secretive. You guys are so close now that you have no secrets between yourselves. Oh No!! Would never advice that. Some things are best kept closed in your hearts. This advice is usually given for past relationships, ex-boyfriends, once-upon-a-time crushes, etc. And it's true. Even if he is aware of all your 'exes', don't share unnecessary details with him. Men are much less accommodating as compared to women and get jealous much more easily, even if the concerned person in contention is just your favorite Bollywood star about whom he can be certain that he is not even aware of your existence, leave alone your affections for him. But, that's how men are. This advice, of course, might not be applicable in case of long-time best buddies becoming lovers and spouses. But being secretive about the details part still holds good. However, when I thought of giving an advice about being secretive, my idea was not really about 'exes'. I personally think that it is much more important to be secretive about your family specifics e.g. how much property your family members might own; how you or any member of your family never get along with some other member; etc. Discovering such details by accident is one thing and opening a Pandora's box with all your family secrets is a separate thing. Even if he discovers any of it, don't divulge any further information or simply start gossiping assuming he now knows most about it so why not tell him the whole truth. No, had they been YOUR secrets, you would have had every right to do so. But they are not your secrets, they are YOUR FAMILY'S secrets, and you have no right to put them in the confidentiality of a person who is not exactly born in the family. Again, he might not really misuse this information or manipulate / blackmail your family with it, but why unnecessarily grant him the power to do so?

6. Your kids' hero: Last but not least, let him do some chores for your kids. What? You are scared that they would be done in such a bad shape that you might have to re-do them? Never mind. Still let him do them. Make him realize that the kids are just NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY ALONE. The same applies to general household chores. And certainly this advice of mine is all the more relevant for couples living on their own, especially without proper house helps to handle most of the tasks.

Also, I would mention here that these above-mentioned rules BECOME APPLICABLE FROM DAY 1 of your marriage / engagement. For once, humans are a strange lot and do not like things happening frequently out of routine. Anything that is put in place at inception is easily accepted as compared to changes introduced later in the relationship. So, for instance, you had been opening your salary account to him ever since the first day of your marriage and then something happens that you did not exactly like, then be prepared that implementing the segregation NOW would be next to impossible. You are now going against the expectation which has been established by you that he may reach out for your salary without first asking for your permission. Forcing such restrictions later on hurts in a relationship. You may notice him taunting you on these at opportune moments forever later in life.

So, be sensible and learn from other people's mistakes. Life is too short and precious to make all of them yourself.

Refreshing my faith in God

We all might have read this poem somewhere or the other. But it's still a good reminder that God will carry us through all of our life's rough patches.

Someone Somewhere is not as happy as you

Sometimes in life we feel so blue,
but someone somewhere is not as happy as you.
Somewhere far at the border when a soldier sleeps,
missing his loved ones he silently weeps.
Somewhere a mother painfully sighs,
'cause her new born baby didn't open his eyes.
Somewhere a poor dad silently cries,
when he sees his son begging for a bowl of rice.
Somewhere in an orphnage a little girl is sad,
when she misses her mom and dad.
So at times a reason to smile
you may not have any,
Say to yourself that you are happier than many.
'Cause life is beautiful and it's not always blue,
And someone somewhere is not as happy as you.

- Unknown
(poem courtesy: Deepa Chandrasekhar)

Originally attributed to Marilyn Monroe, I think.

From frustrated to fiercely independent!!

I have evolved greatly as a person over the last few years. It has not been an easy journey, but, I am happy about the way I have handled it. I am proud of where I have reached but I have faith in where I can go.

Being in a bad relationship is not easy. You cannot decide whether you should stick on or let go. The decision is especially difficult when you have kids. You tend to continue and hold on for their sake. This can be very frustrating - actually very very very frustrating. And then comes a blow that breaks everything apart. The oft quoted 'final straw' is gone and you are forced to choose.

Choose between the socially acceptable and familiar but miserable life or the unknown, unfamiliar and maybe socially stigmatised life. I would say a very very difficult decision to make. In my case I chose the latter. Somehow the decision was entirely guided by what was best for my child and yet it was against what the society would have considered best for her.

I asked myself, "what would be better for her - growing up in peace with a single caring parent even if society asks a few uncomfortable questions or growing up in a strife engulfed household with an uncaring father and a frustrated and depressed mother always arguing and bickering even if the society thinks all is hunky dory?"

I decided in favour of former but not without giving the latter a chance. Friends and Family felt that I should try working out a reconciliation. Went in for mediation. I tried, he didn't, I was done.

People said it wasn't going to be easy. I said, "Okay, maybe not. But I am determined to make it happen." I decided that other people's opinion needn't become my destiny. My father said to me, "My child, never ever under any circumstances, give up on life. Because when the going gets tough, only the tough get going." I was determined to make him proud of me. I hope I have and I continue to do so.

I have since moved from frustrated to independent to fiercely independent. I have learned to take life head on and fight it out. I have faltered at times. True. But, then, life is like a boxing ring. It's not the one who falls down who loses but the one who falls and fails to get up.

I don't say I have never made mistakes nor do I guarantee that I won't do so in future. Life doesn't come with a set of instructions, after all. But I guarantee that I don't intend to go down without a fight. That I am sure of.

The sad phase of boredom...

I have always prided myself in the fact that I don't get bored easily ('ever' would be a big word to use in the context so I settle for 'easily'). And my belief stems from the fact that I do not always depend on others to keep myself engaged or occupied. I am comfortable when I am alone, even if for a long time. There is always something or the other to do. Read a book, surf the net, catch up on some TV, watch a movie or simply pen something for my blog. I also relish such time as it gives me time to reflect on what I might want from my life helping me make decisions for future. In fact, having time all for myself is kind of a luxury. Also one of the reasons, why driving alone is such a stress buster.
However, there are times when even I feel bored. The last time that happened I took time to reflect why. How come the very things I enjoy in my free time were not enticing enough at that point in time. Closer reflection brought me to the fact that boredom is nothing but a phase where you are feeling low for reasons absolutely different from lack of work or company. It is nothing but a phase where something has not exactly gone the way you might have wanted it to go and you are not really happy about it. Boredom is but a feeling of sadness.
So how do you overcome it? Certainly not by cribbing and grumbling. A better way to do so is to think happy thoughts or to engage yourself in something that gives you a high. It's not easy because we are so busy being grumpy and complaining about all and sundry (lack of work or being lonely) that we find it hard to figure out what might make us happy. But I have decided to let go of such thoughts and try and entertain myself with something that might cheer me up the next time I feel 'bored'. Maybe you should try it out too.

I love to sit in silence...

The choices that define me

I chose the road
Not the less travelled one though
But not all have ventured till the end.

Some give up
Some change their path
And continue their journey by following the trend.

The road ahead
Is certainly not easy by far
It goes uphill and the ascent is steep.

But I remember Frost:
"I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep."

I move on
A step at a time, step by step
All steps together forming my journey

I pray to God
To give me the strength
To carry on till the goal is a reality

For that's what I choose
The path is not just my strength,
but also my learning, lore and erudition

It's my victory
my conquest, my dominion, my triumph
It's my Nirvana, and also my salvation

I want to live my life
in such a way that I am
Proud of myself and hold high my head

For it's my choices that define me
No matter how big or however small
Of course, for me, the means are just as important as the end.


© Nishtha Khurana, 2012. All rights reserved.

Which of these roles have I tried to play

I watched them tearing a building down
A gang of men in a busy town.
With a Ho-Heave-Ho, a lusty yell
They swung a beam and a side wall fell.
I asked the foreman, "Are these men skilled
And the men you'd hire if you had to build?"
"For the most part," he said, "No indeed.
Just common labor is all I need.
I can easily wreck in a day or two
What builders have taken a year to do."
And I thought to myself, as I went away,
Which of these roles have I tried to play?
Am I a builder, who works with care,
Measuring life by the rule and square?

- Anonymous

Shocking, disturbing: Arya Orphanage sexual abuse scandal

Off late, I have been reading the newspaper about the sexual abuse scandal that was uncovered recently at the Arya Orphanage in Daryaganj, Central Delhi. A case of a 2 year old battered baby brought to the trauma centre of AIIMS by a teenager claiming to be her mother and slowly page-by-page a gruesome tale of human trafficking opens up. An enquiry leading to arrests also uncovers a chapter in the life of the teenage girl where she had spent some time at the Arya Orphanage and faced abuse (both physical and sexual) before she ran away from there to fall into yet another trap of physical and sexual abuse. One to another and to yet another, it is hard to imagine what the poor child would have gone through to eventually be supporting and favoring her last exploiter over all other people she had met in her short lifetime.

And then there is the orphanage. It is really very shocking and disturbing for me personally to read about the Arya Orphanage because my family has since generations patronized the orphanage. My grandfather had supported the orphanage since when I wasn’t even born and later my father continued to do so. I too have tried to carry on the legacy in whichever little way I can. Until now, that is. Having visited the orphanage twice, and that two at the time of Morning Prayer before breakfast on both occasions, I have seen the kids there. There are thousands and thousands of them, both boys and girls, of age as young as 3 or 4 years; and it now feels awful to imagine being unaware then of what some of them might be going through every day or night. It’s shocking to read about the indifference and alarming attitude of the staff there, the same people who had been very nice and polite then when I had met them. Not an ounce of abnormality (oh hell, I don’t want to use the word ‘guilt’ here) could be seen in their behavior. It was always just normal day’s business there.

Not that I regret doing what I had done for the orphanage and the kids then. Having gone through physical and sexual abuse doesn’t make those kids any bit less deserving of charity if not more. But, it’s plainly, absolutely and entirely shocking. Those kids are vulnerable, easy targets. And that exactly is the point. They had to face this because they were vulnerable and easy targets. Their exploiters knew that they probably don’t even have someone to turn to, that they cannot just simply go away or run. If they do, they probably meet the same fate the poor teenage girl met, having been sold off by pimps and sexually harassed and raped by innumerable men, eventually but accidentally becoming the key to uncovering this abuse.