The morning air was filled with the comforting aroma of freshly baked bread, warm cinnamon rolls, and buttery croissants. Bani had woken up before sunrise, moving efficiently through her kitchen, preparing everything for the first full day of her online bakery. She had spent weeks perfecting her recipes, finalizing partnerships, and ensuring her systems were in place. Now, it was time to see the results.
She took a deep breath as she sat at her laptop, watching the website dashboard. The moment the clock hit 9:00 AM, the first order popped up.
Ding!
A notification flashed on her screen.
Order #001: Chocolate Chip Muffins – 2 boxes
Order #002: Banana Bread – 1 loaf
Order #003: Assorted Cookies – 3 packs
Her heart raced as more notifications followed. Within minutes, the orders flooded in, one after another, faster than she had expected.
Her phone buzzed. It was Aman.
"Bani, your website is on fire! People are placing orders nonstop. I think all those sample distributions really worked," he said, his voice filled with excitement.
Bani smiled as she tied her apron tighter. "I hope we can keep up."
She walked over to the neatly packed boxes on the counter. She had arranged everything in advance—each order labeled and ready to go. The best part? Since she had already baked everything fresh in the morning, there was no last-minute rush to prepare more.
A few minutes later, the soft hum of motorbikes outside signaled the arrival of the delivery boys. She stepped out, greeted by a small group of riders waiting to pick up the orders. The sight of them standing in their branded jackets, holding their insulated delivery bags, made everything feel real.
"Good morning, ma'am," one of the riders greeted her with a polite nod. "We're here for the bakery orders."
Bani nodded and gestured toward the stacked boxes. "Here they are. Let me check them off the list."
She quickly confirmed the orders with the riders, matching the digital receipts on her phone to the labeled boxes. The riders worked efficiently, loading the baked goods into their bags, ensuring everything was secure.
"These smell amazing," one of them remarked as he carefully placed a package of cupcakes into his bag.
Bani chuckled. "Hopefully, the customers think so too."
With a final glance at the neatly packed deliveries, she stepped back. "Alright, everything's set. Thank you for picking them up on time!"
"Of course, ma'am. We'll make sure they reach the customers fresh," another rider assured her before revving up his bike.
Within moments, the small fleet of bikes disappeared down the road, carrying her first batch of orders to their destinations.