I am a master in India

Chapter 39 New Store Opening

Mumbai is hot and muggy in July, and experienced locals know that the rainy season is coming.

In fact, the rainy season is a little late this year. In previous years, it would have rained heavily at this time.

Continuous heavy rainfall will turn low-lying areas into a vast ocean.

This is also the reason why Ron wants to change his apartment. The community where he lives now does not have an advantage in terms of altitude.

He was also very disturbed by the cracks in the apartment walls and the debris that often fell from the ceiling.

It is said that just across the street, an entire apartment building collapsed last year.

People who lived there at the time said they woke up every morning with plaster from the ceiling on their faces and freshly peeled stones, wood blocks, and other things on the walkways.

Then last year during the rainy season, it collapsed and many people died.

Such accidents are common in India, but the more they happen, the stronger Ron's desire to move becomes.

He really has no confidence in India's government credibility and infrastructure.

So while checking out the office decoration in the fortress area, Ron also took a stroll around several nearby streets.

The scenery here is really nice, with tree-lined trails, garden houses, and even fewer beggars on the streets.

He plans to move here before the end of the month, which will not only allow him to avoid the rainy season but also make it more convenient for his future work.

Since they were all in the fortress area, Ron walked to Victoria Railway Station after looking at the new company's decoration.

He had only been hiking in the sun for two minutes, and the back of his shirt was completely soaked.

Passing by the Flora Fountain, the fresh and cool water vapor can't help but make people feel refreshed.

But after only two steps, the scorching hot air hit me again. Just by the roadside, a small vendor was busy adding coal to the stove.

He was wearing a sweat-stained vest and flipping the batter-like food on a plate, and the oil in the plate was sizzling.

Ron was full of admiration and confusion. Frying a frying pan under the sun was not a good idea, and of course not many people could do it.

"Ron!"

In a taxi on the side of the road, Mary was waving at him.

Ron sat in the back seat without hesitation, and the cool air conditioning made him feel refreshed both physically and mentally.

"What made you decide to take a walk in the sun? For a few dozen rupees?"

"I was just measuring my commute time, but the Mumbai sun is a bit too intense."

"Look at what you have become. It reminds me of the tandoori from Papa Kit's stove."

Mary handed him a handkerchief, and Ron took it and wiped his forehead roughly.

"By the way, why are you alone? Where's Lena?"

"She drank too much last night and hasn't gotten up yet."

"It's definitely her loss that she can't witness my masterpiece firsthand."

"You really are becoming more and more like a boss, huh?"

"You know, I have a place that truly belongs to me, and that's very important."

Ron felt a little proud. He felt grounded and no longer like a rootless duckweed.

Mary understood his feelings and gave him an appreciative look.

During this brief eye contact, Ron suddenly noticed that Mary was dressed very differently today.

She wore a light blue short-sleeved silk shirt, a color she preferred, and a rare little white skirt on her legs.

Mary looked pretty, lively and confident in this outfit, and most importantly, Ron had never seen her wear a skirt before.

"Honestly, you have a nice figure." "Thank you, but isn't it too late to compliment me now?"

Mary smiled mischievously, then asked the driver to stop the car, as they had arrived.

There were still a lot of people at the entrance of the train station. The hot air blowing in his face made Ron frown but also full of anticipation.

"Let's go." Mary took the lead and walked towards the magnificent Gothic building.

As she walked with her long, well-proportioned legs, her Roman sandals clattered on the road.

There were hundreds of men on the street, and only two or three who had not been staring at her began to stare at her.

Ron shrugged and decided that he must take Mary home himself today.

The platforms at Victoria Station are very long, with a metal roof extending out of sight.

Because it is the terminal, the end of the train dock is where passengers get off. There is no obstruction nearby, and pedestrians can move freely.

The exit to the outside of the station is also here, and around it are the train station's administrative offices, ticket windows, passenger lounges, and various vendors.

Normally, this area is dimly lit and noisy, but today, under the arcade at the end of the platform, a dazzling billboard illuminates the area.

Red letters on a white background, Mumbai Travel Information Company, with a phone number below.

Simple and clear, there are six such billboards, which are arranged from left to right under the arcade of each platform.

There is a light bulb inside the billboard that is always on, which ensures that every tourist who gets off the bus can see it.

Across the billboard arcade, there is a larger sign, which is the reception office of the Mumbai Tourism Information Company at Victoria Railway Station.

There was a bright sign, a majestic metal arch, a brightly lit reception desk, and a floor so clean you could see your reflection in it.

The front desk was right at the entrance. Mary was already standing there, smiling and answering questions from several foreigners.

There were several tables and sofas on the side, and on each table was a "menu" and a brochure.

There are three private reception rooms further inside this area, all separated by frosted glass.

To entice guests to sit down, Ron also installed a coffee machine here.

Old faces such as Anand, Vinod and Sanjay also changed into uniform yellow shirts.

Hang up the work badge, and wow, that’s what a waiter at the Taj Mahal Hotel looks like.

"Ron, this place is so beautiful that I don't even want to touch the table." Anand was shaking with excitement. He stubbornly believed that the five-star Taj Mahal could not compare to this place.

"I spent a lot of money on the stuff in here. Tell them not to break it."

"Don't worry, if those untouchables dare to touch the sofa here, I will beat them with a stick."

Ron looked at him and blinked. "Man, when you get angry, you even scold yourself?"

"What about the flyers? Have you distributed them?"

"Look outside, there are yellow shirts everywhere! We have our people on the streets of Mumbai too. As you said, foreigners are the first target."

Following Anand's gaze, Ron saw several familiar faces holding flyers and introducing something to foreign tourists carrying their luggage.

There's no ceremony for a new store opening in India, but it's crucial to have a strong presence. With a designated reception point, the company naturally needs to promote the event with great fanfare.

Ron's people were handing out flyers inside the train station and on the streets outside. It was a pity their target customers were foreigners, otherwise Ron would have wanted to put an ad in the newspaper.

For this store, Ron spent a lot of effort, bribing officials, spending a lot of money on renovations, and sending a large number of people to distribute flyers.
Even the words on the sign at the door were written in the same font after he looked at the facades of countless official institutions in Mumbai.

First-time visitors were impressed by the official website. Those tourist bureaus were so shabby and run-down, while Ron's store was much cleaner.

The tourists coming in in groups of two or three are the best proof. This is more attractive than the original makeshift troupe.

"Ron, here's your number." Mary at the front desk waved at him.

(End of this chapter)