Rohit* enjoys his morning coffee, plays computer games in the evening, and works an average of four hours per week. But work doesn’t involve sitting at a desk. The 27-year-old is a sex worker and escort, and his story mirrors that of many young men who come to Mumbai to make it big. Hailing from a small town in Gujarat, Rohit hopes to become a top fashion model some day. But till then, sex pays the bills.

The beginning

When Rohit was broke and unemployed at 23, he posted his services on an online forum, and his job evolved from there. “I was Rs 5,000 short for rent one month and had three days to make up the difference. I thought ‘why not?’. An older guy from New Delhi responded, and I was a little leery, but he offered me cash and a ticket to the Capital for three days,” he says. This became a fast and easy way to make money from people who didn’t care that he had a peculiar resumé. Soon, the money started flowing in and Rohit enrolled in a gym. He also invested in a penis enlargement device to beef up his tool of trade.

While Rohit identifies as gay, he was told by a friend to ‘diversify his portfolio’ and cater to older women too. Initially hesitant, Rohit took the plunge. The money was good, and some of the women enlisted his services just for companionship. “One lady sat me down in the hotel room she had booked in South Mumbai and just wanted to hold hands and talk. She wanted to know why I chose this line of work and urged me to continue to follow my dreams. I was taken aback as I wasn’t used to clients being considerate. We did not have sex,” he says. But what of those women who want to have sex? “I usually pop in a few poppers. They are usually inhaled for recreational purposes, but can also be used during sexual encounters. I’ve never thought about using Viagra,” he adds.

Others, says Rohit, just want to feel desired. “A lady once told me even though she’s 55, she enjoys sex. But her husband told her they were past the age to engage in coitus. Most of my clients above the age of 45 want companionship. They feel young again when I’m with them.” He likes servicing older men and women because they have the money to spend and do not make weird requests.

Perks of the job

Like any canny businessman, Rohit has a package deal for visitors (who are mostly businessmen) to the city. “I charge them a certain amount which involves a tour of some iconic places in Mumbai. They pay for the meals, and some of them even give me a daily allowance, in addition to the lump sum fees,” he says. Some clients have flown him out to different cities for sex; he has a few international clients too, and has visited South Africa, Australia and Europe.

Rohit has a firm line for how far he is willing to go behind closed doors. “I’ve had some weird requests. From golden showers to fisting. If I am uncomfortable, I end the session without payment. Some men enjoy sex bareback (without a condom), which I don’t condone,” he says.

Peak season

Rohit’s peak season starts from Dhanteras and ends a few days after Diwali. He and his colleagues earn close to Rs 1.5 lakh during the festival week. “It pays the rent for three months. I usually go back to doing web shows and tours after that,” he says. In off season, he earns close to Rs 50,000 a month, charging up to Rs 15,000 for a full night. He depends on referral, instead of an ‘agent’ and likes bachelorette parties which help him network.When asked if he plans to continue being in the trade for long, Rohit says, “As long as it pays the bills, I will continue. I do have plans to do an MBA. I’ve been saving up to study further.”

(*Name changed)