Aman, who had been helping her every step of the way, walked into the kitchen with a broad smile.
"Bani, it's time. Let's do the official opening!" he announced with enthusiasm. "And I was thinking… we should add another video—one that shows your bakeries official launch. It will attract more customers."
Bani hesitated for a moment. "But won't that cost a lot?"
Aman shook his head with a grin. "Don't worry. The promoter is on our side. He's a die-hard fan of your delicacies now. He said he wants to be the official advertiser for the bakery. It's a win-win for both of you—he gets more work, and we get a professional promotional video at almost no cost. Let's take it as growing together. There's nothing to lose."
Bani smiled, feeling grateful for the unexpected support. Her heart swelled with excitement. She had started this journey alone, but now, she had people who genuinely believed in her dream.
With a deep breath, she nodded. "Alright, let's do it. Let's officially launch Bakery."
Bani and Aman were finally ready to share the big news with their family. Their bakery was set to launch officially, and they wanted their loved ones to be part of this special moment.
One evening, after finishing the day's work, they sat down with Bani's parents. With excitement in their voices, they expressed their wish to make the bakery's opening a family affair. Her parents listened patiently, then smiled warmly.
"This is wonderful news," her father said. "We will help you in every way we can. But we should also invite some of our relatives to the ceremony. It will be a proud moment for the family."
Bani nodded. She wasn't expecting a grand gathering, but she understood the importance of having close family present. Her father came from a simple yet strong-knit family. He had two brothers—he was the middle child—and a younger sister. They would invite all of them.
The first call was to his sister, who lived in a village with her husband. Her son was a cab driver, and her daughter was married and settled in Bengaluru, a bustling metro city.
Bani had always felt the weight of silence pressing down on her at her in-laws' home. Every word she spoke was scrutinized, every conversation with her parents limited to stolen moments during her bus rides home from school. As a teacher, she had a few free hours between classes, and today, she decided—she couldn't stay silent anymore.
She called her brother.
He had an idea that her marriage wasn't perfect, but he didn't know the full truth. Today, she would tell him everything. As she spoke, emotions she had long buried surfaced, and she knew she couldn't stop now.
When it came to the intimacy between husband and wife, her brother hesitated. He knew he couldn't fully understand her pain, so he added their elder cousin to the call. Bani, with a trembling voice, revealed every hidden scar, every moment of suffering, every dream that had turned into a nightmare. Her cousin listened in silence before finally speaking.