The evening air carried the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee as Aman finished updating their online store. The shop had closed for the day, leaving behind a lingering sense of satisfaction.
Vani, Bani's eldest sister, arrived with a tray holding steaming cups of tea, coffee, and a bowl of spicy mixture. It was a rare moment of respite—a small family gathering after a long day's work. The conversation remained lighthearted at first, revolving around customers, future plans, and the little victories of the day.
But then, as if waiting for the perfect moment, Susheela, Bani's third aunt, cleared her throat.
"You know, Bani," Susheela's voice cut through the chatter, "no matter how much success a woman achieves, her life is incomplete without a husband and children. A career is fine, but what's the point if you don't have your own home, your own family? Who will take care of you in old age? Who will call you theirs?"
The room fell into a heavy silence. Bani slowly set her cup down, her expression unreadable. She smiled—not with warmth, but with a quiet confidence that unsettled those who knew her well. In a voice as steady as steel, she replied,
"Aunty, don't worry about me. If God wills it, and if I choose to build a family, I will. When that day comes, I'll be sure to invite you—after all, you seem so deeply concerned about my future."
The weight of her words hung in the air. Susheela's smile stiffened, but she had no immediate comeback. The conversation shifted, but Bani knew this wasn't over.
Susheela had been hovering around the bakery for days, silently assessing. And as the evening wound down, Bani could sense it—the real conversation was about to begin.
Susheela's tone turned sugary sweet, though laced with something more insidious. "I must admit, Bani, I didn't expect this to take off so quickly. I was wrong about you. This bakery… it's thriving." She glanced around, but her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "But running a business like this? That's a lot of work. You can't handle it all by yourself, can you?"
Bani wiped her hands on a cloth before turning to face her. "I'm managing just fine, Aunty. I've planned everything carefully, and it's running smoothly."
"Oh, dear," Susheela said, feigning concern. "I'm sure it is, but you see… Ramya—my daughter—has been talking about getting into business. She has the skills, the charm… the right mindset for it. She could help you with everything, from marketing to managing customers. You don't want things slipping through the cracks, do you? What will happen when orders pile up? When you need to expand? You should have someone who knows what they're doing."
Bani felt a flicker of frustration but kept her voice even. "I've already hired professional help, Aunty. A marketing expert is handling my online promotions. I don't need any extra assistance at the moment."
Susheela raised an eyebrow, unsatisfied. "Marketing help, you say? That's good, I suppose. But what about the day-to-day work? Social media, customer interactions, managing orders? Someone needs to understand the ins and outs of the business, and Ramya—she's bright. She can learn quickly. She'd be perfect for the role."