By 1:00 PM, the bakery and hotel were both running in full swing, each handling their regular business.
At the Bakery: Managing New Inquiries
Bani was in the middle of packing a fresh batch of almond and butter-choco cookies when a young man entered. He wore a neatly pressed uniform with a café logo on it—Café Bliss.
"Ma'am, my manager sent me to inquire about bulk orders," he said politely. "We received good feedback on your cookies, and we'd like to discuss a regular supply."
Bani wiped her hands on her apron and nodded. "Sure. Let's sit for a minute."
They went over the details:
Preferred cookie varieties – Their café wanted more cardamom-pistachio and almond cookies in bulk.
Pastry customization – They were interested in mini fruit tarts and chocolate-filled pastries.
Regular supply agreement – They wanted deliveries twice a week with slight variations in flavors.
Bani kept the pricing flexible, adjusting for bulk quantities. The deal seemed promising—another steady café order meant more stable revenue.
Before leaving, the café staff took sample packs of the new cookies to test with customers.
At the Hotel: Lunch Rush and New Ideas
Meanwhile, at the family hotel, Aman was handling the usual lunch service.
By 1:30 PM, the dining area was packed—office workers, families, and travelers stopping by for a quick meal.
Their father stood at the counter, supervising. "Orders are moving well today. More dal rice and thalis than usual."
Aman nodded. "I noticed. We should consider adding a mini snack menu for the evening—maybe light bites that go well with tea and coffee."
His father raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Something simple—butter cookies with tea, or small savory snacks. Customers already like the freshness of our food. If we sell these with chai in the evening, we can increase our earnings."
Their father thought for a moment, then nodded. "Let's test it today. Bring a few cookies from the bakery and see if customers buy them with coffee."
The Evening Setup
By 4:00 PM, Aman returned to the bakery, picking up a small batch of butter and honey-oat cookies.
Back at the hotel, they placed a trial plate near the tea counter—a few butter cookies alongside steaming cups of tea.
Customers instantly took interest. A man sipping his tea asked, "These cookies are fresh? Do you sell them separately?"
Aman responded smoothly. "Yes, we're testing them today. If you like them, we'll add them to the menu."
By 5:30 PM, nearly all the cookies were sold, just through casual tea orders.
When Aman called Bani to update her, she chuckled. "Told you snacks would work. I'll bake extra for tomorrow."
With steady hotel meals, growing bakery orders, and cafés showing serious interest, the siblings' business was steadily expanding. The next step? Scaling up production and keeping the momentum going.
Chapter [X+13]: A New Problem and Its Solution
By 6:30 PM, the day had calmed down a bit. The hotel was slowing its dinner rush, and the bakery orders were mostly packed and ready for pickup. Bani was in the back room when her phone buzzed with a notification.
It was a message from one of the cafés.