Those without sin cast the first stone

Recent media attention surrounding erotic massage parlours that have sprung up in our area has bought out much uncertainty surrounding this perceivably 'unsavoury' industry.

Desi Girls is one of The Bugle's clients; they have been on the same page for the last two years, since opening their doors in Umhlanga in 2014. We never had a problem with them, just a few calls from outraged readers threatening their support for our newspaper.

Last week I went to meet the owner Neeleka Maharaj and her girls at her Umhlanga branch, and I was seriously moved by what I found. You see sometime we are too quick to judge and there are those of us who seek to claim the moral high ground with everything, however once we get a clear picture of the realities involved in the situation, things start making a lot more sense.

Neeleka has a heart-wrenching story of love, loss and injustice. She was widowed at the age of thirty-six. She was left a single mother in a community that shunned her, in a world where single and widowed women are sometimes seen as a threat to family and society.

She was wrongly accused of murder and placed in jail where she was sexually violated by a police officer. Broken and desecrated Neeleka attempted suicide, seeking an easy way out of her shattered life, but the love of her daughter and the need to be strong eventually navigated her back to the right path.

Neeleka opened a hairdressing salon in Verulam, renting a garage as her first premises. One of her staff alerted her to the fact that many gentlemen coming to have their hair cut would also appreciate a more intimate service. 5 years ago Neeleka started her Tantric Massage Services in the back of the garage with one girl. Tantra is an ancient healing technique, which was formed many centuries ago, aimed at releasing natural energy from within the body to deal with physical and emotional trauma. Today she boasts three venues and twenty-six girls.

You see, sensual massage with a happy ending might not be for you or me and that's ok, but while I was there interviewing and chatting to the girls, I saw men of all ages, sizes and racial groups popping in for a quick relief.

Neeleka has chosen this path in life because she had nothing left to lose. She has taught herself the art of Tantric massage through Youtube channels and Internet sites. And her business boomed.

While I was there I was introduced to twenty four year old Sahana (her work name). Sahana comes from a staunch religious family. At a young age she was forced to find a job to help her poor parents.

Sahana is beautiful. She has long black hair, big, bright eyes and a tiny body. You can see the love she has for Neeleka.

Sahana worked at a call centre before she joined Neeleka, "I was earning R5000 per month, working ungodly hours and travelling late at night catching taxis and putting my life on the line." Sahana told me.

"I really tried hard at my job at the call centre but it was not for me. Then I answered an advert in a newspaper and went to work for similar set up in an apartment in Umhlanga. I was so young but I learned fast and soon I was even enjoying my work." She ran away when the owner of the 'massage parlour' tried to force her to do 'full house', which she flatly refused to do.

Sahana came to Neeleka two years ago and she never looked back. "This is my family." Sahana told me pointing to the girls sitting on a red couch. "We work together. We trust each other and we help each other out."

"I consider myself a therapist," Sahana told me, "I have clients that I help and I am proud of what I do. I could walk away anytime I want but I don't want to because I love what I do and I am good at it."

My next introduction was to Zen (also her work name). Oh! Zen is one of the most beautiful women I have seen in a long while. She has light brown complexion, exquisitely chiseled face with high cheekbones and brilliantly white teeth, she used to be a hockey coach in Pietermaritzburg before she came to Neeleka.

"I was going nowhere with my life." She told me, "This is when I answered an advert in a newspaper and arrived at Neeleka's door with a R100 and a suitcase." Zen was taken in, given a place to stay and mentored, becoming one of the prized gems at Desi Girl.

Each girl has a profound story to tell. And yes maybe once these girls dreamt of being a nurse or a teacher but their circumstances did not allow them to pursue their dreams.

"I am a Tantric Massage therapist." Zen concluded, "and I am here to fix broken people."

Next time you think about judging these girls, think of the circumstance that brought them here and just imagine how blessed you are to be where you are.