Recently, a moving story was brought to light by an Indian influencer. Anish Bhagat captured his journey to one of India’s most famous red-light districts in a touching video posted to Instagram.
During that day, he spent time with Roxy, a prostitute and a devoted Instagram fan. Over 17.7 million people have viewed the heartwarming tale since then. Bhagat shares his journey to meet Roxy at the start of the video.
She invites him to her flat following a cordial conversation. “My room is this one”. As she gives him a tour, Roxy remarks, “I never bring anyone here, you’re the first one.”
Their conversation takes a sombre turn as Roxy recounts her harrowing past. “My uncle brought me here after my father’s death, promising to help me with a job. Instead, he sold me,” she confesses.
She has lived for fifteen years, yet she does not let pain to define who she is. With obvious sorrow, she continues, “Even the pain has gone.”
Roxy’s love of reading and her commitment to giving local kids tuition are two examples of her tenacity. Her daughter attends an English-medium school, which she conveys with pride. Bhagat surprised Roxy with sushi, when he aksed what he can do for her.
In the midst of her hardships, the film ends with the two of them sharing a dinner. “You don’t have to understand someone’s story to respect them—respect is a basic right, not a privilege,” Bhagat wrote as the video’s caption.
Viewers were extremely moved by the touching video, which sparked a flurry of comments. “I am inspired by Roxy’s strength. She has a lot to teach us all,” one person commented. “Anish Bhagat, you’ve used your platform for good,” said another.