Just as the sun was starting to light up Mumbai, chaos ensued inside Phoenix Mall, one of the city’s most highly decorated shopping destinations.
Normally, the mall wouldn’t open its doors to the public until 11 AM, giving the staff ample ti for their morning routines, cleaning floors and restocking inventory.
But not today.
Today was going to be a very busy day, that would be anything but normal.
This morning, they had to complete their preparation of the mall in about thirty minutes, work that normally would have taken two or two and a half hours at the very least.
Here, a young woman in a smart navy blue blazer appeared to be waiting by the main entrance with a clipboard in hand, as she called out in a voice that clearly look like a person with so considerable authority.
"Faster! We need the entire floor cleaned in the next twenty minutes!"
The cleaning staff rushed around her, with mop and brooms held by them, with a sense of urgency.
"I want every surface spotless! And soone go check the air conditioning—make sure it’s set to exactly twenty-two degrees!"
Supriya, assistant to the Mall Manager, swung smartly round on her heel, her face tightening, and strode towards the central office where she knew her manager was, talking away on her phone.
The mall manager, Mrs. Ansari, was a woman in her mid-thirties who had been managing one of the most coveted malls to shop and dine in the city for over ten years.
She was tall and well-dressed in an elegant cream-colored pantsuit, her posture impeccable even while on the phone.
"Boss," said Supriya as Mrs. Ansari ended her phone call. "Everyone seems to be working overti today but I couldn’t help but wonder.... what’s the hurry today?
Hurrying is one thing, but why are we closed to the public entirely?"
The sharp eyes of Mrs. Ansari fixed on her assistant. "We have a very important guest arriving this morning. Soone who has specifically requested complete privacy for their visit."
She paused, letting the weight of her next words sink in.
"And given that Mr. Oberoi himself had gave the call directly and agreed to close its entire mall for the next three hours, he must be a VVIP"
Supriya’s eyes widened. "The entire mall? Boss, who could possibly be wealthy enough to be able to do that."
"That’s none of our concern," said Mrs. Ansari firmly, though not unkindly. "Our sole concern is to offer our guest the very best service we can provide. If our guest requires sothing, we must arrange it in the most outstanding way possible. Understood?"
"Yes, ma’am," Supriya replied, straightening her posture.
Mrs. Ansari checked her watch, noting the ti.
"They’ll be arriving at any mont now. Position yourself by the entrance and be ready."
Supriya nodded in response and swiftly made her way to the main entrance, positioning herself professionally at the glass doors with her clipboard held neatly in front of her.
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9:30 AM VIP Parking Area
The sleek black Grand Wagoneer smoothly pulled into the parking space reserved for VIPs, positioned directly in front of the mall’s main entrance.
The driver’s side door opened, and a young man stepped out handso, dressed casually in dark jeans and a crisp button-down shirt. He moved around to the passenger side with unhurried steps.
Inside the Grand Wagoneer, Lucy could be seen gripping the edge of her seat with white knuckles, her face slightly pale.
The fifteen-minute journey from Alex’s apartnt to the mall had been nothing short of absolute terror for her.
"Brother Alex?" Lucy asked, her voice trembling slightly. "Please, tell it’s over.... Please tell we have reached our destination."
He glanced at her pale face and almost couldn’t restrain his laugh, but he caught himself just in ti and managed to keep his expression sympathetic.
"Indeed we have!" he said reassuringly, opening her door. "See? Safe and sound, just as I promised."
"I simply don’t understand these machines!" Lucy exclaid as she stepped out on shaky legs. "What if it had lost its mind and decided to go sowhere else entirely?"
"I’m controlling it, Lucy. It doesn’t have a mind of its own," Alex said patiently, taking her hand to help steady her. "So don’t worry, okay? It goes exactly where I tell it to go."
As she stood outside and looked around the parking lot for the first ti, her gaze traveled upward and she stared at the huge building before her with absolute astonishnt and wonder.
The mall rose several stories high, its exterior made entirely of gleaming glass and steel that reflected the morning sunlight brilliantly.
Huge windows lined its front, reflecting not only the skyline but also the clouds drifting across the sky above.
"Brother Alex," Lucy breathed, her voice filled with awe. "What... what is this place? Such a grand building... Is this a palace of your king? Does your king live here?"
Alex stepped beside her, following her gaze upward with a small smile. "No, this isn’t a palace. It’s called a shopping mall. It’s a place with many stores within one building, where people may purchase many different things clothes, food, jewelry, books, almost anything one could want."
"All under one roof?" Lucy’s mind began to wander, trying to comprehend the scale. "How many stores could possibly fit inside sothing so enormous? Ten? Twenty?"
"You might count them yourself today if you wish," Alex said with a slight smile. "I think you’ll be quite surprised by the answer."
Together, they walked towards the entrance, Lucy’s hand gripping Alex’s tightly.
Supriya stepped forward with her most professional smile firmly in place. "Good morning, sir, ma’am. Welco to Phoenix Mall. May I have the pleasure of introducing myself as Supriya? I shall be personally assisting you during your visit today."
Lucy looked at Alex with an expression that clearly said: Who is she? Is she your servant?
Alex gently guided Lucy forward with a hand on the small of her back. "Thank you, Supriya. We appreciate your assistance."
"It’s our pleasure entirely," Supriya answered smoothly, her professional deanor never wavering.
She turned and walked toward the glass doors. As they approached, the motion detectors sensed their movent and the doors suddenly slid open on their own with a soft chanical hiss.
Lucy gasped loudly at the unexpected movent, but a second later, she quickly moved her hand over her mouth to keep herself from making more noise that might embarrass her.
"How..." Lucy turned to look at Alex, her eyes wide and asking for an answer to this new magic.
But she got nothing except a gentle shushing look in response, his eyes twinkling with amusent at her reaction.
Together, they stepped through the entrance and went inside Phoenix Mall.
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