Chapter 151 Departure
"You invested in a movie, but the leading actress isn't me!"
"Honey, that was just a low-budget film, made with just Rs 3 million. You want to make a big movie, don't you?"
"I don't believe it!" Manisha looked at him sideways.
"There are restricted scenes in it."
"Ah?" Manisha was shocked.
"I told you it's a low-budget movie. Who would watch it if it didn't have some color?" Ron shrugged.
Manisha finally stopped messing around and became an ambitious Bollywood actor.
If you want to act in a blockbuster in the future, it is best to avoid these low-cost films as they can easily lower your standards.
"By the way, speaking of that movie, do you know Durga Puja?" Ron asked her quietly.
"That Valkyrie?" Mani had lived in India for so long that he was familiar with some famous mythological figures.
"Yes, it's her."
“Are you a devotee of Durga?” asked Manisha.
"No, I want you to play her."
"Hmm? Hasn't the leading actress for this movie been decided?"
"Oh, you didn't understand me." Ron gave her a look. "I'm not talking about acting in front of the camera, but at home."
"Home?" Manisha was stunned, then her eyes widened. "Oh! By Allah!"
"No, I'm on top!" Ron corrected her.
Cosplay, he also wants to play.
Besides, if a Brahmin master wants to have fun, he’d rather have something exciting.
Well, he needs to research what other goddesses there are in Hinduism.
It would be better to get some costumes that resemble the statues in the temple. As an actress, Manisha will surely be able to get into the role quickly.
Manisha has worked so hard, Ron won't get anything for free.
He used his connections through old Lal and Chandra to help Manisha secure the second female role in two films.
Her filming schedule for this year has already been fully booked, and her complaint just now was just a way of acting spoiled.
Especially after learning that Ron started investing in movies, Manisha pestered him even more.
Having worked in Bollywood for so long, this "Nepalese Princess" is well aware of the power of capital.
She has a prominent family background, but is out of reach, so Ron can be her backer.
Alas, the burden on his shoulders became a little heavier, after all, he had two more legs.
After leaving Manisha, Ron went to see Hela again.
This sister was preparing to go to Goa for vacation. The rainy season in Mumbai is not suitable for foreigners to stay for a long time, and she can't stand the humid weather.
"You've come at the right time. If I have any passport business, please help me put it on hold for now." She was packing up her things in the studio.
"I came to say goodbye, too?" Ron shrugged.
“Where are you going? On vacation too?” Hela raised her head.
"There's a movie being shot in Uttar Pradesh, and I'm visiting relatives."
“Okay, I’ll go to Goa.” Hela lost interest instantly.
As a foreigner who has lived in India for four years, she knows very well what North India means.
Foreigners, especially foreign women, should never try to go there, otherwise no one can guarantee what will happen.
"By the way, there's something I might need your help with."
"What?" Ron asked.
"A friend. She's in some trouble. We'll talk about it after we get back."
"No problem." Ron nodded in agreement.
“I knew you would help me.” Hela threw the things in her hand and pulled him out of the studio.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked in surprise.
“Elbow, come with me into the house!” Hela’s tone left no room for doubt.
The rainy season is so long, there must be something to reminisce about.
It was a pity for Ron, as he didn't even have the energy to go look for Kaavia.
Never mind, that's enough, Ron decided to be lazy.
I counted on my fingers and it seemed that all the grass around the nest had been pulled out.
After calling his friends, Ron officially set off for Uttar Pradesh.
He, Nia, Mary and a few others flew directly from Mumbai to Varanasi.
Shiv Kumar took the rest of the crew to Uttar Pradesh by train.
Are you kidding? Air tickets cost several thousand rupees each. Where did the crew get the budget?
Train tickets are much cheaper, with sleeper carriages costing just 300 rupees across the Indian subcontinent.
Shiv and his team had already set off early, and Ron had to wait until the first rain of the monsoon season arrived before he hurriedly made arrangements in Mumbai.
There was no way. The electric fan from Sur Electric had just been taken offline, and he had to make sure that there was no problem before he could leave.
"Baba, do you want to bring some insect repellent?" Nia jumped around the apartment like a happy golden-winged bird.
"Varanasi is not a primitive tribe, Nia, we don't need to prepare so many things." Ron was a little helpless.
"But that's not Mumbai." Nia finally stuffed the bottle of insect repellent into the suitcase.
That was also her hometown, and she knew very well what she needed to prepare.
Well, she is happy today, let her be.
Nia came to Mumbai more than a year ago and returned home, but her heart had already flown to the north.
At the Mumbai airport, Ron looked at the girls around Mary and blinked in confusion.
"Ms. Madonka?" he asked uncertainly.
"Hello, Dr. Sur." Urmila shook hands with him generously.
"You can't let a 19-year-old girl squeeze into a train." Mary, wearing sunglasses, smiled.
"Of course, this is our leading actress." Ron agreed very much, and then politely shook hands with Urmila's father.
Her family also came to the airport to see her off today. Her mother looked very worried, but her father whispered to comfort her.
“Dr. Sur is a good man. Urmila is safe now.”
When he first took on the role in this film, he agreed to let his daughter star in it after hearing Ron's name.
He really saw it today, and as a father he was greatly relieved.
Although Ron was surprised that Urmila would come with them, he still greeted her family warmly.
The two sides chatted for a while and then said goodbye to each other. The four girls, both plump and thin, followed Ron straight to the boarding gate.
This attracted the attention of most of the men around, simply because the girls were so beautiful.
Ron was surrounded by happy troubles, and he enjoyed the pleasure of watching them.
Oops, his Indian genes are stirring again.
It's a pity to waste 20,000 rupees on a first-class ticket. I spent the money but got nothing.
It only takes 3 hours to fly from Mumbai to Varanasi, which is much faster than Shiv and his team.
Varanasi is a very special city, largely due to the Ganges River that runs through the city from south to north.
Legend has it that this river was formed when drops of water from Lord Shiva's hair fell to his feet. The river is connected to the soul of Lord Shiva, and prayers here are particularly effective.
It became a holy river in the eyes of Hindus, and Varanasi became a holy city.
Most believers have such a wish, that they must visit Varanasi before they die, or die on the way to worship.
On special holy days, one million believers bathe and pray in the Ganges. Even on ordinary days, there are 5,000 pilgrims on the banks of the Ganges.
Those in South India often set out on their journey more than a month in advance. If they don't have money to take the train, they'll just cling to the roofs and windows.
For this purpose, the railway bureau also installed grilles on the windows, but this did not have much effect.
Although Varanasi is not the capital of Uttar Pradesh, it is more famous than Lucknow.
At least Mary and the others had heard of the holy city, but they didn't know the city of Lucknow.
"Why is the city built only on the left side of the Ganges, and there is nothing on the right side?" Lena was very curious.
This is also a major feature of Varanasi. The Ganges River runs through it from south to north. Varanasi is on the left and the right is a barren land.
Yes, there is nothing on the right, just a complete wasteland.
"Because people think that the other side of the river is an unclean place, even slums will not be built there," Ron explained.
"This is so strange. And what are those big stone platforms in the river?"
"It's a bathhouse and a crematorium."
"What!" Lena widened her eyes.
"On special holy days, people hold bathing ceremonies there, and sometimes they use it to cremate bodies. Look over there."
Following the direction of Ron's finger, Lena and the others saw thick smoke rising from a step by the river.
The body, wrapped in a sari, was carried on a bamboo pole and thrown into the sea of fire. The family members around him kept chanting scriptures with solemn expressions.
"Oh, God!" Lena couldn't stand this scene.
"There are garlands on the sari and the firewood is sandalwood. This is a wealthy family," Ron commented.
"Rich family?" they asked subconsciously.
"The poor are over there." Ron pointed, and a corpse floated in the river below their feet.
"Oh my God!" This time Mary couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Hindu believe that the Ganges is the closest place to the afterlife, and passing away here is equivalent to obtaining a passport to the afterlife."
The greatest hope of many Hindus in their lifetime is to scatter their ashes in the Ganges.
Bathing people, ashes, soaked and decayed corpses, feces, straw, rancid buffaloes, and various industrial waste acids.
This is the water of the Ganges, which is very nutritious. Ron has drunk a glass of it.
It was here that the old servant Abbey had asked someone to fetch the holy water, and the effect was remarkable, so he came.
Mary and the others stared at the Ganges River. They had never seen such a scene before. It was completely different from the scenery in Mumbai.
The only similarity is that there are also a few foreign backpackers here, who are holding their cameras and taking pictures non-stop on the sightseeing boats on the river.
"Okay, I'll show you around the city some other day. Now let's find a place to stay."
Varanasi is also a tourist city with many hotels, including many high-end ones.
For safety reasons, Ron arranged for them to stay in the best hotel in the city and left two bodyguards at their disposal.
He had to go back to his hometown in the countryside first. How could he dare to take Mary and the others deep into the countryside before everything was arranged?
Sur's home is in the suburbs of Varanasi, less than ten kilometers away from here. Ron had already informed his family in advance.
Both his parents are dead, but he still has members of his family, and quite a few of them.
While in Mumbai, Ron didn't contact his hometown much, only making a phone call before returning.
When he took Nia to meet at the agreed place, he couldn't hold it back as soon as he got there.
(End of this chapter)
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