๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ซ - Chapter 1: Chapter 1
You are reading ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ซ, Chapter 1: Chapter 1. Read more chapters of ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ซ.
The early morning light filtered through the pale curtains of Akshara's bedroom, casting a soft, golden hue across the neatly arranged books and minimalist furniture. She stretched in bed, feeling the warmth of the morning sun on her skin, and let out a content sigh. It was a familiar routine-this quiet moment before the day began, before the bustling sounds of her family and the busy cafรฉ life claimed her attention.
Akshara glanced at the clock. It was 7 a.m., and she knew the house would soon come alive with the smell of breakfast and the lively chatter of her family. She slipped out of bed, wrapped her long, wavy hair into a messy bun, and quickly freshened up before heading downstairs.
The moment she reached the kitchen, the familiar sound of her mother humming filled the air. The smell of masala chai and freshly toasted bread mingled with the scent of parathas. Her mother, dressed in a simple cotton sari, was busy at the stove, flipping the parathas with practiced ease.
"Good morning, beta," her mother greeted, without turning around. "Did you sleep well?"
"Morning, Maa," Akshara replied, taking a seat at the kitchen island. "Slept like a baby. What's for breakfast today? The parathas smell amazing!"
Her mother smiled, setting a plate of hot aloo parathas with a side of homemade yogurt in front of her. "Eat quickly. You know your father will come down any minute, and he'll start his usual complaints about breakfast getting cold."
Just as she was about to take a bite, her younger sister, Anika, breezed into the kitchen, her face glowing with youthful energy. At sixteen, Anika was the baby of the family, full of ideas and dreams that often left the rest of them either amused or puzzled.
"Akshara di!" Anika exclaimed, plopping down beside her. "Do you think I should dye my hair? Maybe a bold color like green or purple? You know, something that screams 'me'."
Akshara raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Green or purple? Are you trying to scare off people or just stand out more than you already do?"
Anika grinned, clearly unbothered by her sister's sarcasm. "I just want to do something different."
Their banter was interrupted by their father, a man with a deep voice and a towering presence, who walked into the dining room, adjusting his reading glasses. "What's all this talk about green hair?" he asked, chuckling. "Your mother and I had to convince your uncle not to dye his mustache last week, and now this?"
Their father sat down at the head of the table, his gaze moving fondly from one daughter to the other. Akshara's older brother, Rohan, and his wife, Meera, entered next, exchanging knowing looks as they settled in.
"Morning, Dad. Maa, smells like heaven in here," Rohan said, pecking his mother's cheek and sliding into the seat beside his wife. Meera smiled warmly at Akshara as she reached for a paratha.
The dining table was soon full of lively conversation. Rohan spoke about a new project at his job, Meera shared anecdotes about her latest charity work, and Anika debated the merits of unconventional hair colors with Akshara. Their father, as always, offered his sage advice, steering the conversation with his wisdom and wit.
By 8:30 a.m., the family had finished breakfast, and Akshara excused herself to head to her cafรฉ. "I'll see you all later! Aditi and I have a big day planned at the cafรฉ."
Her father nodded approvingly. "Good luck today, beta. You've turned that cafรฉ into something special."
With a warm smile, Akshara grabbed her bag, car keys, waved goodbye, and stepped out into the crisp morning air. Driving to her cafe.
At Sweet Bite Cafรฉ:
Sweet Bite was nestled in one of Mumbai's quieter neighborhoods, a charming corner cafรฉ known for its cozy atmosphere, decadent desserts, and the welcoming smiles of its owners. The pale yellow faรงade, adorned with hanging plants and vintage signage, exuded warmth even from the outside.
When Akshara arrived, her business partner aka her best friend too, Aditi, was already at the counter, taking inventory. Aditi had been Akshara's confidante since their college days, and together they had dreamed up Sweet Bite during long nights filled with discussions of entrepreneurship and shared passion for starting business own their own.
"Akshara! You're just in time," Aditi greeted her with a broad smile. "Nikhil and Nitya are setting up the display cases."
Akshara grinned and headed behind the counter, where Nikhil and Nitya, two of their most trusted staff members, were arranging freshly baked muffins, cookies, and croissants. Nikhil, a witty and sharp young man with an artistic flair, handled the cafรฉ's visuals and decorations, while Nitya, with her calm demeanor and attention to detail, managed the day-to-day operations.
Even though their assigned job they sometimes helps Akshara in kitchen too.
"Morning, everyone," Akshara said, tying on her apron. "Today's going to be busy, but I think we're ready."
Aditi handed her a list. "I've gone over the schedule. We've got two large orders-one for a birthday party and one for a corporate event-plus our regular customers. Nikhil's putting together the gift hampers for the corporate event, and Nitya's handling the special requests for the birthday order."
Akshara scanned the list and nodded. "Perfect. Let's make sure we stick to the timeline. And let's have fun while we're at it!"
Akshara walked to the counter, connecting the laptop to blootooth speakers arrenged in cafe she played the regular play list. There work won't start if the music player is off. While humming the songs everyone began with their routine, as 'titli' played in background.
The cafรฉ opened its doors at 9 a.m., and the regular stream of customers soon began to flow in. Sweet Bite was known for its personal touch-Aditi's playful conversations with customers, Akshara's knack for remembering faces, and the way the entire team treated everyone like old friends.
As Akshara worked the espresso machine, she caught Aditi joking with a group of college students who were regulars. "You guys better order the cheesecake before they get all sold out," Aditi teased, winking at them.
By noon, the cafรฉ was buzzing. Akshara moved fluidly between tasks-taking orders, supervising the kitchen, and making sure everything was running smoothly. Nitya worked quietly and efficiently, keeping everything on track, while Nikhil's artistry shone through in the beautifully crafted desserts and the decorations he designed for the birthday order.
Around 3 p.m., the cafรฉ hit its midday lull, and Akshara finally had a moment to breathe. She leaned against the counter, wiping her brow, as Aditi joined her with two cups of iced coffee.
"We're killing it today," Aditi said, handing Akshara a cup. "But we seriously need a break."
Akshara chuckled, taking a long sip. "Tell me about it. But honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love the chaos."
Aditi grinned. "Yeah, there's something about seeing people enjoy what we've created. Sweet Bite has really become a part of this community."
As they chatted, Nikhil approached with a sheepish smile. "Akshara di, I just overheard something interesting from one of the customers. Woh koi naya cafe open hua hai, humare hii neighborhood mein. They might be competition."
Akshara raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "Unhe bhi try karne do. Humare paas bhi kuch khaas hai, Jo unke paas may be na ho, our relationship with our customers. Besides, competition keeps us on our toes."
Aditi nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Let's keep doing what we do best-great food, great vibes, and a lot of heart."
By 5 p.m., the cafรฉ had wrapped up its major orders, and the team began their closing routine. Nikhil and Nitya worked on cleaning up the kitchen, while Aditi and Akshara counted the day's earnings and made a to-do list for the next day.
Once everything was in order, Akshara locked up the cafรฉ, feeling that familiar sense of accomplishment wash over her. Another busy, successful day was in the books.
As she hopping in her car, she started her drive to her home, the evening breeze cooling the heat of the day, she couldn't help but feel grateful. Sweet Bite wasn't just a cafรฉ-it was her dream come true, a place where her passion and hard work intertwined with the friendships and bonds she cherished.
And as the lights of her family home appeared in the distance, Akshara smiled, knowing that this balance-between family and her beloved cafรฉ-was what made her life so fulfilling.
Akshara glanced at the clock. It was 7 a.m., and she knew the house would soon come alive with the smell of breakfast and the lively chatter of her family. She slipped out of bed, wrapped her long, wavy hair into a messy bun, and quickly freshened up before heading downstairs.
The moment she reached the kitchen, the familiar sound of her mother humming filled the air. The smell of masala chai and freshly toasted bread mingled with the scent of parathas. Her mother, dressed in a simple cotton sari, was busy at the stove, flipping the parathas with practiced ease.
"Good morning, beta," her mother greeted, without turning around. "Did you sleep well?"
"Morning, Maa," Akshara replied, taking a seat at the kitchen island. "Slept like a baby. What's for breakfast today? The parathas smell amazing!"
Her mother smiled, setting a plate of hot aloo parathas with a side of homemade yogurt in front of her. "Eat quickly. You know your father will come down any minute, and he'll start his usual complaints about breakfast getting cold."
Just as she was about to take a bite, her younger sister, Anika, breezed into the kitchen, her face glowing with youthful energy. At sixteen, Anika was the baby of the family, full of ideas and dreams that often left the rest of them either amused or puzzled.
"Akshara di!" Anika exclaimed, plopping down beside her. "Do you think I should dye my hair? Maybe a bold color like green or purple? You know, something that screams 'me'."
Akshara raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Green or purple? Are you trying to scare off people or just stand out more than you already do?"
Anika grinned, clearly unbothered by her sister's sarcasm. "I just want to do something different."
Their banter was interrupted by their father, a man with a deep voice and a towering presence, who walked into the dining room, adjusting his reading glasses. "What's all this talk about green hair?" he asked, chuckling. "Your mother and I had to convince your uncle not to dye his mustache last week, and now this?"
Their father sat down at the head of the table, his gaze moving fondly from one daughter to the other. Akshara's older brother, Rohan, and his wife, Meera, entered next, exchanging knowing looks as they settled in.
"Morning, Dad. Maa, smells like heaven in here," Rohan said, pecking his mother's cheek and sliding into the seat beside his wife. Meera smiled warmly at Akshara as she reached for a paratha.
The dining table was soon full of lively conversation. Rohan spoke about a new project at his job, Meera shared anecdotes about her latest charity work, and Anika debated the merits of unconventional hair colors with Akshara. Their father, as always, offered his sage advice, steering the conversation with his wisdom and wit.
By 8:30 a.m., the family had finished breakfast, and Akshara excused herself to head to her cafรฉ. "I'll see you all later! Aditi and I have a big day planned at the cafรฉ."
Her father nodded approvingly. "Good luck today, beta. You've turned that cafรฉ into something special."
With a warm smile, Akshara grabbed her bag, car keys, waved goodbye, and stepped out into the crisp morning air. Driving to her cafe.
At Sweet Bite Cafรฉ:
Sweet Bite was nestled in one of Mumbai's quieter neighborhoods, a charming corner cafรฉ known for its cozy atmosphere, decadent desserts, and the welcoming smiles of its owners. The pale yellow faรงade, adorned with hanging plants and vintage signage, exuded warmth even from the outside.
When Akshara arrived, her business partner aka her best friend too, Aditi, was already at the counter, taking inventory. Aditi had been Akshara's confidante since their college days, and together they had dreamed up Sweet Bite during long nights filled with discussions of entrepreneurship and shared passion for starting business own their own.
"Akshara! You're just in time," Aditi greeted her with a broad smile. "Nikhil and Nitya are setting up the display cases."
Akshara grinned and headed behind the counter, where Nikhil and Nitya, two of their most trusted staff members, were arranging freshly baked muffins, cookies, and croissants. Nikhil, a witty and sharp young man with an artistic flair, handled the cafรฉ's visuals and decorations, while Nitya, with her calm demeanor and attention to detail, managed the day-to-day operations.
Even though their assigned job they sometimes helps Akshara in kitchen too.
"Morning, everyone," Akshara said, tying on her apron. "Today's going to be busy, but I think we're ready."
Aditi handed her a list. "I've gone over the schedule. We've got two large orders-one for a birthday party and one for a corporate event-plus our regular customers. Nikhil's putting together the gift hampers for the corporate event, and Nitya's handling the special requests for the birthday order."
Akshara scanned the list and nodded. "Perfect. Let's make sure we stick to the timeline. And let's have fun while we're at it!"
Akshara walked to the counter, connecting the laptop to blootooth speakers arrenged in cafe she played the regular play list. There work won't start if the music player is off. While humming the songs everyone began with their routine, as 'titli' played in background.
The cafรฉ opened its doors at 9 a.m., and the regular stream of customers soon began to flow in. Sweet Bite was known for its personal touch-Aditi's playful conversations with customers, Akshara's knack for remembering faces, and the way the entire team treated everyone like old friends.
As Akshara worked the espresso machine, she caught Aditi joking with a group of college students who were regulars. "You guys better order the cheesecake before they get all sold out," Aditi teased, winking at them.
By noon, the cafรฉ was buzzing. Akshara moved fluidly between tasks-taking orders, supervising the kitchen, and making sure everything was running smoothly. Nitya worked quietly and efficiently, keeping everything on track, while Nikhil's artistry shone through in the beautifully crafted desserts and the decorations he designed for the birthday order.
Around 3 p.m., the cafรฉ hit its midday lull, and Akshara finally had a moment to breathe. She leaned against the counter, wiping her brow, as Aditi joined her with two cups of iced coffee.
"We're killing it today," Aditi said, handing Akshara a cup. "But we seriously need a break."
Akshara chuckled, taking a long sip. "Tell me about it. But honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love the chaos."
Aditi grinned. "Yeah, there's something about seeing people enjoy what we've created. Sweet Bite has really become a part of this community."
As they chatted, Nikhil approached with a sheepish smile. "Akshara di, I just overheard something interesting from one of the customers. Woh koi naya cafe open hua hai, humare hii neighborhood mein. They might be competition."
Akshara raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "Unhe bhi try karne do. Humare paas bhi kuch khaas hai, Jo unke paas may be na ho, our relationship with our customers. Besides, competition keeps us on our toes."
Aditi nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Let's keep doing what we do best-great food, great vibes, and a lot of heart."
By 5 p.m., the cafรฉ had wrapped up its major orders, and the team began their closing routine. Nikhil and Nitya worked on cleaning up the kitchen, while Aditi and Akshara counted the day's earnings and made a to-do list for the next day.
Once everything was in order, Akshara locked up the cafรฉ, feeling that familiar sense of accomplishment wash over her. Another busy, successful day was in the books.
As she hopping in her car, she started her drive to her home, the evening breeze cooling the heat of the day, she couldn't help but feel grateful. Sweet Bite wasn't just a cafรฉ-it was her dream come true, a place where her passion and hard work intertwined with the friendships and bonds she cherished.
And as the lights of her family home appeared in the distance, Akshara smiled, knowing that this balance-between family and her beloved cafรฉ-was what made her life so fulfilling.
End of ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ซ Chapter 1. Continue reading Chapter 2 or return to ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ซ book page.