The Delhi Rajdhani Express comes to a halt at New Delhi station, after a 17 hour journey, almost exactly on schedule at 8:12 a.m. The ladies and PSOs, Nilesh and Sudesh, disembark and 3 porters bring all their luggage. At the station entrance, a stretch limousine is chosen so the 4 of them can travel with all their luggage in the same vehicle. The fee to the 4 star Grand Venetia Hotel in North Delhi is negotiated and agreed. When all is loaded, the limo pulls away smoothly into the traffic which is anything but smooth. On the way Emily tells Sansa that she had a doubt about the accuracy of her research on the legality of running an escort agency in India. She believes there is a loophole in the law that can be exploited successfully to enable another option. She will give Sansa the details in their room at the hotel. It doesn't take long to reach the Grand Venetia. The fee is paid by Sudesh with cash from Sansa. Their luggage is taken into the lobby by hotel staff and the ladies go to the Reception desk to register.
They are fortunate to secure a superior 2 bedroom suite with lounge for less than the cost of 2 rooms. Emily feels safer when Nilesh is nearby... She hasn't really recovered from her abduction yet. All the luggage, accompanied by Sudesh because Nilesh will not leave Emily's side, arrives in the suite very shortly after the others. Sansa handles the tipping, through Sudesh, after the appropriate luggage has been delivered to the primary & secondary bedrooms. Sitting in the lounge while Nilesh & Sudesh use the computer terminal in their room to search for suitable cars and possible residences. Emily expands on the legal loophole she mentioned in the limo. Reading in a whisper from her tablet: "Section 2 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (104 of 1956) defines sex work as 'an act of sexual exploitation or abuse of persons for commercial purposes or for consideration in money or in any other kind..."
"... This section 2 of PITA and the provisions of Indian Penal Code tell us that indulging in a sexual act for money is not illegal or punishable, but the abuse or exploitation of a person for any commercial purpose, including sexual exploitation is both illegal and punishable. I'm confident I could successfully argue that a sole adult female may indulge in a consensual sexual activity in exchange for money, i.e. they wouldn't have done something illegal. This is because the law doesn't define individual women voluntarily selling sex as prostitutes. However an escort agency could be argued to be sexual exploitation of a group of women. This gives us a perfect excuse not to become involved in an agency".
Sansa asks in a whisper if she means that they won't be able to run an agency with her parents. Emily answers: "Exactly! We have to operate as individuals and the planning done so far can be easily adjusted to fit". Sansa lets out a little whoop of joy and they embrace happily until sounds herald the approach of Nilesh & Sudesh. Emily looks up the number of the Delhi branch of Grindlays' bank, and arranges a meeting with the bank manager, for later in the morning so banking arrangements for their work can be made. On the way to the bank, she tells Nilesh & Sudesh that they want to stop off and buy mobile phones for their work and ask if the men have their own. When they say they don't, Sansa says that good work smartphones will be bought for them on the way to the bank meeting. She also explains that smartphones provide access to the internet.
Nilesh reports that he and Sudesh have been discussing and researching suitable cars and wish to respectfully ask the ladies if they consider Mercedes, BMW and Audi to be acceptable options. They all have substantial and comfortable models, available in black with tinted windows and excellent climate control features. They are all in the range of US$60,000, but buying a matched pair together could mean a price reduction. All are popular with company executives. If the Mems (Memsahibs) wish, they could organise the vehicles to be delivered to the hotel each morning over the next 3 days on free 24 hour loan for test driving. Emily and Sansa look at each other smiling, and nod agreement with the idea. Sansa thanks them and asks that they make the arrangements. After a shower, they dress in sari outfits that they are prepared to be seen wearing when not travelling.
When ready, they proceed to the limousine waiting for them outside. On the way to the bank, they stop to buy 2 smartphones each for themselves (the black for work and the white for private use) and 1 each for Nilesh & Sudesh. The phones are set up for them in the store and all their numbers inserted into the directory of each phone. The sims are transferred from the ladies' existing phones into the new white smartphones. Emily pays the bill and they set off for the bank meeting. As they wait for the appointment time, a woman walks directly toward Emily. Nilesh immediately stands protectively blocking her path, she laughs and calls: "Emily, Sansa, can it be you?" They look up and hardly believing their eyes, see Amy. They get up and Emily tells Nilesh that it's okay and then they hug each other warmly. Sansa introduces Amy to Nilesh & Sudesh as their friend from Bangkok Girl. The bank manager comes out to greet the ladies, he obviously knows Amy, who says she is happy to wait for them.
Inside his office, using her special debit card, Emily's identity is confirmed. While the manager pours the tea, he asks how may he be of service. Emily says they arrived this morning to live and work in Delhi and asks how he knows Amy. He says that she is a customer and they have become... friends. Emily nods with a smile noting his pause, saying that they are Emily's friends too.
Emily explains that the reason for their visit today is to set up business accounts for herself and Sansa. He asks confidentially if their businesses and Amy's are similar, Emily confirms they probably are and he nods his understanding. She adds that both she and Sansa will need a mobile card payment terminal to make booking reservations and to make payments into their account, by use of a mobile phone app during a phone call. He says it can be done immediately. Emily gives their temporary address at the hotel, adding that they will start a property search in the next few days.
They sign some forms, transfer a working balance of US$100,000 into the 2 new accounts and after a few minutes they receive their debit cards and the all important card payment terminals plus US$1,000 each in rupees for incidentals. The manager sets up the links so that the app on their black smartphones will operate the debit card terminal for them. Emily also transfers a further $10 million from her savings account (leaving $1,089 million) to her personal current account, should they need to move quickly on the purchase of a residence. They thank the manager for his kind courtesy and assistance, then take their leave.
Outside they rejoin Amy and invite her to join them for dinner at their hotel. On the way she points out a favourite shop for lingerie, so they take the opportunity to stop and shop. Sansa and Emily buy several sets of sexy bras and g-strings, also several pairs of hold-up stockings with pretty lace tops and some sheer negligees to replicate the brothel uniforms they wore on Bangkok Girl. Amy loves the idea and buys some for herself, whispering to Emily that she is still 'working' and Emily replies that she and Sansa have come to 'work' in Delhi. Amy is delighted and looks forward to them catching up with each other. At the check-out Emily smiles to herself and also buys a pepper spray and a rape alarm for Sansa and for herself. At the hotel, the driver is paid and they all go up to the suite. The ladies sit to chat in the lounge while Nilesh goes to continue his research on cars and properties using his new smartphone. Sudesh serves drinks from the bar and then goes to join Nilesh in their room.
Amy tells her story since last seeing Emily & Sansa when going into the police interview rooms. She was interviewed by the Thai Police and told all she knew because she was promised complete immunity and a relocation package if she testified. She had no other options, so she did as they asked. Igor and his henchmen were tried in Bangkok on charges of murder, trafficking, slavery and running a prostitution ring. They were found guilty on all charges and sentenced to death by machine gun. After the sentence was carried out, Amy relocated to Delhi, with enough money to live modestly for a year. She knew the money would run out eventually so went back on the game. She hasn't made a lot of money, but has made a lot of useful contacts among the rich and famous of Delhi. She can't say how happy she was to see them at the bank.
Emily tells her their story but not in full detail. Sufficient to say her family seems to have cut her off and given her an early inheritance, probably through guilt because none of what happened to her was her own fault, discounting becoming a career prostitute voluntarily! They all giggle in memory of the events. Maybe her family felt guilt at their inadequate security, perhaps she will never know. Today is truly their first day in Delhi, so they cannot be more pleased at their serendipitous meeting. They had planned to open a new escort agency but Emily's memory of how to operate within the law... was actually British law! However, they have found a loophole in Indian law that allows them to exchange sex for money and not be prosecuted for prostitution. Before leaving Kolkata they engaged Nilesh as Emily's bodyguard and driver and Sudesh as Sansa's. Yesterday they all travelled to Delhi by train. Today they registered here in the hotel until they can find and buy their own home. They hired the limo to buy some items and to set up business banking arrangements. Amy says she is so glad that they met and Sansa responds with the same sentiment while Emily just beams a smile and nods.
