Even before dawn, Aman was up and ready. The few leftover jasmine and marigold bundles from last night's market trip were neatly packed again. Instead of wasting them, he had another plan—selling them to local vendors in the early morning before heading to the hotel.
By 6 AM, he loaded the flowers onto his bike and set off towards the nearby flower stalls and roadside vendors. These small sellers catered to morning temple-goers and households that bought fresh flowers for daily rituals.
As expected, the first vendor he approached was eager. "Fresh jasmine? What's the rate?"
Aman kept the pricing reasonable, just a bit lower than the wholesale market's late-night price. Since most local vendors didn't go to the big market at night, they were happy to buy from him instead.
Within thirty minutes, he had sold off all the remaining flowers. The earnings weren't as high as the night market, but it was still pure profit—covering fuel costs and adding to their flower business earnings without raising suspicion.
By 6:30AM, Aman returned home just as Bani was getting ready for the morning bakery work. She noticed the empty crates and smirked.
"Sold them all?" she asked.
Aman nodded, setting down the extra cash. "Easier than expected. Local vendors took everything. This morning sale can cover for our night business, so no one will doubt where the flowers come from."
Bani grinned. "Smart. Now, let's get started on the bakery. We need fresh Rusk and Butter Cookies ready before breakfast time."
Without wasting time, they both got to work—one handling bakery orders and the other preparing for another busy day at the hotel.
On the counter, trays of freshly baked Rusk and Butter Cookies were cooling. The aroma of warm butter and toasted biscuits filled the kitchen.
"I just packed the cookies," Bani said as she sealed the last container. "Help me load them into the crate."
Aman stacked the containers neatly and set them aside. But their morning routine wasn't just about bakery items—fresh vegetables were also part of the delivery.
Since her father and brother ran the hotel, Bani had been quietly supplying fresh spinach, tomatoes, carrots, and beans from the magical space. It wasn't new to her. Each morning, she packed vegetables in regular-looking crates, blending them with market-bought produce so no one would suspect the unusual growth rate of her farm.
By 7:45 AM, their father entered the kitchen, checking the vegetable crates. "Everything ready?" he asked.
Bani nodded. "Spinach and tomatoes are fresh as usual. I also packed extra beans today."
Their father inspected a handful of spinach leaves and smiled. "This is why customers love our food—it's always fresh."
Aman placed the crates on a trolley and moved them towards the truck. The cookies went in a separate box, easy to access near the hotel counter.
"Try offering samples with tea," she suggested. "If more customers like them, we can increase production."
Aman smirked. "Business-minded as always."
With everything loaded, they set off for the hotel while Bani stayed back to handle the next bakery orders. Another busy day had begun, but this routine was something they had mastered—flowers at night, vegetables in the morning, and bakery orders throughout the day.