Goondas
The goondas are Mumtaz's henchmen who hunt down and beat the women who escape from Happiness House.
"The virus"
This euphemism refers to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Digital Magic Machine
Digital camera
Ama
"Mother" in Nepali
"First blood"
A young girl's first menstrual period
Happiness House
Mumtaz's brothel
Roti
A round flatbread
Betel
A mild stimulant native to East Asia that when chewed can turn saliva and teeth black
Brothel
A business where customers engage in sexual activity with sex workers
Human Trafficking
The illegal act of coercing, transporting, or forcing people into labor or sexual exploitation.
Nepal
A mountainous, landlocked nation bordering India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Tibet
Hindi
The most commonly spoken language in India
Festival of Lights (Diwali)
An important Hindu religious festival associated with the goddess Lakshmi
Festival of Brothers and Sisters (Raksha Bandhan)
A Hindu festival celebrating siblings
"The Bold and the Beautiful"
An American soap opera
David Beckham
One of the most famous soccer players of all time. David Beckham is from England, not America, as Lakshmi believes
Himalayas
A mountain range in Asia, spanning from the Indian subcontinent to China
lassi
A sweet yogurt drink
dal
Curry of lentils, peas, or beans
rupee
The currency used in India, Indonesia, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal.
