After breakfast, Amy and Sushila join Emily and Sansa in the lounge of the owner's suite to discuss the viability of the Maharajahs' Express as a business project. All agree that the 7 night journey was an absolute delight but also confess to experiencing a culture overload toward the end. They realise that in not choosing to visit the hotel spa instead of visiting another fort or palace probably contributed to their overload, but customers are quite likely to do as they did and be 'culture vultures' to make the most of their expensive holiday. Amy suggests that such an action packed itinerary may not recommend itself to honeymooners who might be better off choosing a luxury hotel in a romantic location. Sushila adds that advertising the Maharajahs' Express in every hotel in the Best Erotic Marigold group is likely to be the cheapest and most effective promotion as the guests are already enjoying the luxury of a 5 star hotel.
Emily reminds them of the financial realities of such a venture. Despite the excellence of the service, Maharajahs' Express, operated by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, has only just started turning in a profit in the last 2 years in spite of only achieving 40% occupancy. Reports suggest that prohibitive haulage fees charged by the Indian Railways (Rs 9 crore/US$1,257,542) are the problem. The Estimated Annual Revenue is US$24.1 million and the number of employees is 281. Sushila adds that any operator of such a venture is unlikely to make any progress seeking a reduction in the prohibitive haulage fees, because they would be negotiating with an agency of the government, the evidence being the previous lack of progress in that respect.
Emily summarises that the large overheads, in addition to the haulage fees, the guided tours and pay for 281 employees present a large challenge that can only be overcome by achieving a greater occupancy rate, which after 7 years the Maharajahs' Express have been unable to do and they are the company which received the "World's Leading Luxury Train" award at the World Travel Awards for seven consecutive years from 2012 to 2018. The full costs for the holiday would have been: US$5,980 per person for a deluxe cabin; US$9,460 per person for a junior suite; US $13,800 per person for a suite and US$23,700 per person for the presidential suite. She adds that their keenness to sell the Franchise by giving them all a free holiday suggests that the Maharajahs' Express might be a failing project under current operating conditions.
Sansa, Sushila and Amy agree that the project involves substantial risk and they recommend the project doesn't proceed. Emily thanks them for their contributions adding: "At least all our excellent people enjoyed, what will be for most, the holiday of a lifetime!" Emily asks Amy to arrange a meeting for her, when they get back to Delhi, with the Franchise Director of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation and asks Sushila to draft a letter to the Franchise Director for Emily to sign and give to him at their meeting. Sushila suggests that she also take the signed letter offering her and her retinue a holiday trial journey free of charge in case the Franchise Director expects a payment to cover the costs. Emily thinks it is a good idea and asks Sansa, Sushila and Amy to attend the meeting with her.
Mrs Karima Chettri, the Group Hotels Manager, joins Emily and Sushila for a private lunch to update them on the situation regarding the alleged misappropriation of funds by the Mumbai hotel General Manager, Dr Surabadjia Singh, who is currently under suspension. She reports that she has reviewed all the documentary evidence and is convinced that a crime has been committed by Dr Singh. The Mumbai Police have found enough after just a few documents to justify his arrest and it was that very morning that he was taken into custody under Section 403 in The Indian Penal Code: "Dishonest misappropriation of property: Whoever dishonestly mis-appropriates or converts to his own use any movable property, shall be punished with imprisonment... for a term which may extend to two years, or a fine, or both".
As a fortunate precaution, Mrs Chettri's first instinct was to have full photocopies made of every document in the dossier and verified by her signature to be a true copy. Hotel records therefore remain intact even after the police have removed the dossier of evidence and will, if they agree that he has committed a crime, no doubt refer the case to The Office of the Procurator (similar to the Crown Prosecution Service of the UK). Emily thanks Karima for her update and the conversation over lunch turns to happier topics, such as their recent trip on the Maharajas' Express in which she is very interested.
All the ladies are reminded of the dangers of going out in Mumbai without arranging through Nilesh for at least one PSO to accompany them. That afternoon, Emily has arranged for one of the hotel coaches to take any of her team that wish to accompany her on a visit to the Mumbai Port Trust Garden. They spend a relaxing afternoon enjoying the parks and gardens seeing the rich tapestry of plants on display. The large variety of trees provide shaded areas where benches are available for those wishing to sit and absorb the beauty of nature. Leaving early enough to avoid the rush hour, they return to the hotel via The Gateway of India and the famous Taj Palace hotel that was one of eight sites attacked by Islamic terrorists in November 2008. At least 174 people died, including 9 attackers, and more than 300 were wounded.
Back in the penthouse, many enjoy an exotic drink on the terrace taking in the superb panoramic view of Mumbai as the sun gradually dips below the horizon and the twilight gives way to the darkness of the night to reveal the glorious lights of the city. After dinner, Emily and Sansa retire quite early to their suite and reflect on all that had happened and the sights they had seen since leaving Delhi. But that's not the only thing on their minds, they are enjoying being able to sleep together when it pleases them, without the risk of being kept apart by their 'dates' with men. Emily confesses that she no longer wishes to prostitute herself, it's not as if she needs the money, in fact she hopes to retire from prostitution at the end of the next cruise when all her current bookings have been honoured.