Wicked Chocolate Brownie
Bashonti was very fond of baking. With nothing much to do through the day she decided to take small party orders for baking cakes. Her chocolate cakes were the yummiest available - at least in Ameerpet. That morning Naina Majethia, one of Bashonti's old kitty friends called her up and placed an order for a two Kg Chocolate Brownie cake for her daughter Mansi's birthday.
The next morning, Bashonti woke up unusually early- it was the first order of her life- she was a wee bit nervous. She had to do a good job- she knew word of mouth was the only way she could get more business. A week back she had shopped for the month and the key ingredients meant for baking the 2 kg cake were all thankfully purchased. She didn't have to make another one of those hurried visits to the local kirana shop. So then, it was all set- she kept all the ingredients ready- maida (refined flour), white butter, castor sugar, cocoa, eggs, milk, nuts and baking powder. It was ready in two hours and delivered by evening for the party. It looked scrumptious and Bashonti was sure Naina's guests would love it.
As expected, Naina called and lauded Bashonti's baking skills and promised to recommend her to her friends and relatives. Bashonti was thrilled. She did a mock jig and gave herself a pat.
A day later, she decided to starch all her Taant er saaris- the work was long due and the day seemed just right for the job with the Sun shining nice and bright. (She hated the job.) However, the huge hit of her chocolate cake had given her this added energy- she wanted to conquer the world. Starching a few Sarees was an effect of the continued excitement in her...she decided to finally finish the work. Bashonti didn't like Revive, she preferred buying arrowroot (starch)- it made her saris crisper. She tore opened the packet and dissolved the stuff in the water and finished the job. But something was strange about this arrowroot- she couldn't figure what.
Dried clothes had to be be taken off from the clothes line before sunset- this was something Bashonti did everyday after her marriage to Das babu, twenty five years back. It was like religion- she did it with utmost sinceriety. She hurried to the balcony to take off the dried starched sarees. She took them off one by one....Hey! Wait a minute! " didn't i starch these sarees?, she said to herself. But the sarees didn't feel stiff- they were soft and smelled funny. She went back to the cupboard where she had stored the arrowroot to check it. She took some in her hand and instantly realised what she had done! Naina Majethia's guests had feasted on arrowroot chocolate brownie and her favourite Taanter saris were soaked in refined flour and had nice big blotches of white..
Just then the phone rang- it was Preeti Sha, Bashonti's friend. She wanted her to bake three five KG -chocolate brownie cakes - the same ones you made for Mansi's birthday, she said. Exactly like that.
Bashonti had this wicked smile on her face....
Bashonti doesn't take anymore orders- not because her customers discovered her secret recipe. She stopped cause she realised there was better margin in designing clothes. The secret recipe of the delicious brownie remained a secret, untill now.
The next morning, Bashonti woke up unusually early- it was the first order of her life- she was a wee bit nervous. She had to do a good job- she knew word of mouth was the only way she could get more business. A week back she had shopped for the month and the key ingredients meant for baking the 2 kg cake were all thankfully purchased. She didn't have to make another one of those hurried visits to the local kirana shop. So then, it was all set- she kept all the ingredients ready- maida (refined flour), white butter, castor sugar, cocoa, eggs, milk, nuts and baking powder. It was ready in two hours and delivered by evening for the party. It looked scrumptious and Bashonti was sure Naina's guests would love it.
As expected, Naina called and lauded Bashonti's baking skills and promised to recommend her to her friends and relatives. Bashonti was thrilled. She did a mock jig and gave herself a pat.
A day later, she decided to starch all her Taant er saaris- the work was long due and the day seemed just right for the job with the Sun shining nice and bright. (She hated the job.) However, the huge hit of her chocolate cake had given her this added energy- she wanted to conquer the world. Starching a few Sarees was an effect of the continued excitement in her...she decided to finally finish the work. Bashonti didn't like Revive, she preferred buying arrowroot (starch)- it made her saris crisper. She tore opened the packet and dissolved the stuff in the water and finished the job. But something was strange about this arrowroot- she couldn't figure what.
Dried clothes had to be be taken off from the clothes line before sunset- this was something Bashonti did everyday after her marriage to Das babu, twenty five years back. It was like religion- she did it with utmost sinceriety. She hurried to the balcony to take off the dried starched sarees. She took them off one by one....Hey! Wait a minute! " didn't i starch these sarees?, she said to herself. But the sarees didn't feel stiff- they were soft and smelled funny. She went back to the cupboard where she had stored the arrowroot to check it. She took some in her hand and instantly realised what she had done! Naina Majethia's guests had feasted on arrowroot chocolate brownie and her favourite Taanter saris were soaked in refined flour and had nice big blotches of white..
Just then the phone rang- it was Preeti Sha, Bashonti's friend. She wanted her to bake three five KG -chocolate brownie cakes - the same ones you made for Mansi's birthday, she said. Exactly like that.
Bashonti had this wicked smile on her face....
Bashonti doesn't take anymore orders- not because her customers discovered her secret recipe. She stopped cause she realised there was better margin in designing clothes. The secret recipe of the delicious brownie remained a secret, untill now.
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