27 April,2009 09:14 AM IST | | Subroto Roy
City gigolos earn up to Rs 20,000 per hour despite slowdown
In these hard times, with lay-offs and dipping profits there's only one graph that's heading up the sex trade.
While Mumbai is struggling with the slowdown and the scorching heat, Pune is fast blossoming into a sex haven.
According to a source in the gigolo circuit, Pune is gaining ground as a gigolo hotspot to reckon with.
The trend of older women buying sex has gone up by 100 per cent since 2003. In fact, so high is the demand for services that clients are willing to shell out nearly Rs 20,000 for an hour's service. Sumit Paul (name changed), who does not like the gigolo tag, spoke exclusively to MiD DAY about his encounters in Pune's elite circles. "Oral sex, sex toys, intellectual and clean shaven men are the hot favourites with Pune's women clientele," said Paul. Paul, who is a senior research scholar, revealed thatu00a0 women preferred younger men. Even guys above 28 years are considered old and older men are paid as little as Rs 500 for a night's service.
Pick-up spots
Elite clubs in Kalyani Nagar and fancy joints in Koregaon Park are favourite pick-up points, he revealed. Gigolo Sanat Pandey (name changed) and his friend first encountered a woman on M G Road in 2006. "A pretty woman in her late 40s approached us on the pretext of asking for directions. She asked us if we could accompany her and my friend went along," recalled Pandey.
The woman offered Pandey's friend Rs 10,000 and he became a regular with her. She spread the word around and soon he became the talk of town.
Kinky corner
And the clients, said Paul, expect their money's worth. This at times borders on the kinky and the aggressive. Paul said one particular client even flogged him.
"She said she wanted to flog her husband, but as she couldn't do it to him, she did it to me," he said.
Added Paul, "The use of sex tools is rampant too. Expensive vibrators and dildos like Rampant Rabbit are common in Pune."
Fantasy trip
Putting the matter into perspective, Dr Supriya Telang, a psychologist, said it wasn't always lack of satisfaction at home that spurred women to buy sex.
"Women's fantasies gain more vigour during middle age and with financial independence, they have become bold and adventurous. Monotony of routine sexual behaviour bores women by the time they reach middle age," she explained.
The circuit so far has managed to evade the law. Police Inspector Mrudula Karwande of the Women's Cell, Crime Branch (Pune), said she had heard about this trade, but had never come across any cases.
