Lakshmi

Lakshmi is the protagonist of the story. She is a Nepali girl, and was named after the Goddess Lakshmi. She was born in a small, poor, village in Nepal. She lives in a poor hut with her mother, Ama, her stepfather, and her baby half-brother. Though, her family is desperately poor, she has simple pleasures in her life, like getting her hair brushed by her mother, playing with her friend, Gita, and taking care of her little speckled goat, Tali. She also likes to watch the boy, Krishna, the boy she will be marrying.

Lakshmi's father died 2 years ago, of illness. Because it is sinful to live without a man in the family, Lakshmi's mother, Ama, quickly remarried a crippled man, and had a son with him. Lakshmi is 13 years old, and helps her mother grow crops in hopes of money to help their family survive. However, her stepfather gambles away all their money at the Bajai Sita.

Lakshmi awakens one day to discovere her first period. Her mother is eccentric about this, and it is hinted that in a Nepali man's view, a woman getting her period is a sin. Because of this, Laksmi's mother locks her in a shed for an entire week, and she isn't allowed any visitors, except for her goat, Tali to stay with her.

After this, Ama tells Lakshmi all the rules to being a woman and respecting your man. Though, Lakshmi is confused and doesn't understand why women are belittled by men, even though they do so much for them, her mother only tells her that that is the way things are.

As Lakshmi's family becomes more poor every day, Lakshmi can't help but envy Gita's family, who has gotten more and more money since Gita has left to work in the city as a maid, and sends her earnings to them.

This inspires Lakshmi to also go away to the city to help send her family money.

Later, Lakshmi's stepfather finally agrees with her, when they cannot even afford food for the baby. He takes Lakshmi to the Bajai Sita, and sells her to a woman named Bimla. Though, her stepfather tells Lakshmi that she is working as a maid in the city, she really sells to the city to be a prostitute. Bimla travels with Lakshmi on another journey for several days. On the way, Bimla tells Lakshmi to call her Auntie Bimla, and then tells her about movie stars. Lakshmi thinks Bimla is a movie star because she seems so glamorous. When Bimla smiles at her, she reveals black teeth, foreshadowing that Bimla is also dark on the inside, and her intentions are bad. Bimla then sells her to a man. The man tells her that he will be her Uncle, but she must call him Husband. He gives her candy a lot, and travels with her across the border of India. On the way, Lakshmi sees a girl her age with her head shaved, and is being beaten and spat at. Her Uncle Husband tells her that she deserved it for not obeying her husband.

Lakshmi is finally taken to a place called Happiness House, where she is sold to a fat woman named Mumtaz. Lakshmi then realizes that Happiness House is a brothel, and she is expected to work and live there as a prostitute. When she refuses, Mumtaz locks her in a room for several days, and starves her and beats her every night. Though, Lakshmi still refuses to comply, Mumtaz then drugs her and uses her as the "Virgin Salesitem" and the men simply rape her. Lakshmi was awake but unable to move or speak. The only man she remembers is man named Habib, who raped her and took her virginity. After being raped by several men, Lakshmi gives in, and is allowed to roam the house with the other girls. Lakshmi makes friends with the other girls like Pushpa and her 2 children, Shahana, Anita, Shilpa, and Monica.

Pushpa's son, Harrish, teaches her Hindi and English. Lakshmi and Harrish form a friendship, ahd every day after school Harrish gives her another lesson and teaches her to read and write. When Harrish, and his mother and sister are kicked out, Harrish gives Lakshmi his english book, and a new, sharp, pencil before he leaves. Lakshmi is heartbroken and begins to feel that life is not worth living if she doesn't have her friend.

Lakshmi then forms a relationship with the teaboy who stops by every morning to sell tea and soda. Lakshmi never buys tea, because she doesn't want to spend her money, but he can see that she is depressed because Harrish left. He begins to leave her a free cup of tea every day, and when Lakshmi and him become friends, they begin to like each other. The teaboy one day gives Lakshmi a coke, and Lakshmi gets to try soda for the first time. She loves it, and begins very eager to see the teaboy everyday. But when the teaboy gets fired for giving free tea and soda, he is beaten and Lakshmi never sees him again. Lakshmi is distraught once again because she lost another friend, and she never even knew the teaboy's name.

Finally, Lakshmi meets an American man who is investigating for underage girls being used as prostitutes. He gives Lakshmi a card. Later men come and raid the house.

They call and see if any girls are there. Though, she and the other girls are hiding, Lakshmi bravely goes to be rescued. She uses the English, Harrish taught her, to speak to the man. She says, "My name is Lakshmi, I am from Nepal. I am fourteen years old."