By 8:15 AM, with Aman and their father gone, the house settled into a quieter rhythm. Bani and her mother sat down for breakfast—simple idli, chutney, and a hot cup of coffee. It was a rare calm moment before another busy work session.
As soon as they finished, Bani took her laptop and opened the bakery order dashboard. Since the online store had just launched, most of the bulk orders were coming through direct calls rather than online bookings.
She checked the messages:
Café Aroma: 10 packs of assorted cookies + 15 pastries
Chai & Bite: 12 packs of coconut and almond cookies + 20 pastries
Café Bliss: 20 assorted cookies + 30 pastries
Bani tapped her fingers on the table, calculating the pricing. Bulk orders meant negotiation, but since the cafés were ordering in large quantities, she could offer better deals.
Packing the Bulk Orders
By 8:45 AM, she had finalized the pricing and called each café back to confirm:
Coconut, Almond, and Unique Butter-Choco Swirl Cookies were included. No Rusk, since cafés needed softer cookies that paired well with coffee.
Pastries were customized slightly—vanilla cream, chocolate drizzle, and fruit glaze varieties.
With the orders set, Bani moved to the bakery area and began packing. The fresh batch of cookies had cooled, and the pastries were placed into special boxes to prevent damage.
By 9:30 AM, the first café's delivery person arrived.
"Café Aroma's pickup?" she asked as the man checked his order list.
"Yes, ma'am. Here for the 10 cookie packs and 15 pastries."
Bani handed over the sealed boxes, ensuring the café name was labeled properly. "Tell your manager we've added an extra pack of butter-choco cookies as a trial. If customers like it, let me know."
The man nodded. "I'll inform them. Payment is through cash?"
"Yes, direct payment today. Next time we'll set up an online account for easier transactions."
By 10:00 AM, the other two café representatives arrived one after another, collecting their bulk orders.
As the last pickup was completed, Bani sat down with a deep breath. Today's sales were already promising. Bulk café orders meant consistent revenue if she managed them well.
She made a mental note:
Track which cookies sell best at cafés.
Adjust pastry flavors based on customer feedback.
Expand the delivery system for smoother operations.
Chapter [X+11]: Managing the Day's Orders and Planning Ahead
By 10:15 AM, the bulk café orders were successfully picked up, and the morning rush had settled. Bani took a moment to review the sales. The direct calls had worked well, and negotiating bulk deals had ensured good profits without relying solely on the website.
But there was no time to relax. New orders were still coming in.
She checked the pending list:
Two online orders for assorted cookies (single packs)
A request for customized pastries from a small office nearby
A new café inquiry asking about tea-friendly cookie options
Bani quickly packed the online orders—one customer had selected almond and coconut cookies, while another wanted the butter-choco swirl variety. She labeled the packages, ready for the delivery partner's pickup.
Exploring More Cookie Variations
With the major morning orders complete, Bani decided to experiment with new flavors for the cafés. She already knew that Rusk didn't work for them, so she focused on lighter, tea-friendly options.
By 11:00 AM, she had prepped dough for two new variations:
Cardamom Pistachio Cookies – Soft, fragrant, and ideal with tea.
Honey Oat Cookies – Slightly chewy, with a natural sweetness that paired well with black coffee.
She carefully baked a test batch, making notes on texture and taste.
As the cookies cooled, she took a quick break to reply to a café owner's message.
Café Bliss:"Customers liked your almond cookies! Can we try a sample of any new flavors?"
Bani smirked. Perfect timing. She quickly packed a few of the new cookies and sent a message back:
Bani:"I just prepared something special—Cardamom Pistachio and Honey Oat Cookies. I'll send a sample with your next order. Let me know what your customers think."
Aman Returns from the Hotel
By 12:30 PM, Aman returned from the hotel, carrying an empty cookie container.
"All sold?" Bani asked.
"Yeah," Aman grinned. "Customers took them fast. Some even asked if we had more flavors."
Bani handed him the new test batch. "Good timing. Take these to the hotel tomorrow and see which ones work best with tea or coffee."
Aman nodded, picking up a cookie to taste. "This cardamom one is nice. Feels very traditional, like something people would enjoy with chai."
"That's what I was aiming for," Bani said, pleased.
With successful sales, new experiments underway, and growing interest from local cafés, the bakery was steadily gaining momentum. Now, she just had to keep the orders flowing.