The Red Velvet Cupcake
Baking is an art they say. It requires everything to be
measured out perfectly. And cupcakes they were the cute cuddly devils of the
baking world. Not only did they need the perfect measurement of all the
ingredients, even the batter had to be measured out. One little cheat and the
entire thing would just end up in the dumpster. Sometimes they would need an
ingredient that had no place in the dessert world Like Salt or buttermilk and
yet somehow they would just enhance the flavor of the cupcakes.
Samira took out the last batch of
her cupcakes and placed them in the carrier caddy just when Anirudh called her.
She answered it while taking off her apron
“You want me to pick you up now or do
you need an hour to get ready?” He asked sarcastically.
“And hello to you too” Samira replied. Anirudh rolled his eyes
“Look you get here in fifteen
minutes. I’ll be ready alright!”
“Fifteen minutes not a minute more.
And I mean it woman. If you’re late I am going to leave and you’re going to
carry those 200 cupcakes in an auto rickshaw.”
“You’re going to wait here while I
get ready, load those cupcakes in the car along with the decorations because if
I have to carry them in an auto you can forget your share of profit. And dare
you speak to me that way again you’re not Dwayne Johnson and I will Smack you
Pretty boy am I being clear?”
“Yes Ma’am” Anirudh replied.
They were
best friends and business partners. Samira was the baker while Anirudh was the
one who got them contracts and managed the accounts. And today they had to
cater a birthday party of a sixteen year old who loved the red velvet cup
cakes. And after baking 200 cupcakes she was exhausted she wore her red dress,
slapped a little makeup, and dolled herself up just to hide her exhaustion. She
lit up a cigarette while she waited for Anirudh. She took a puff and let out a
smoke. She let her mind wander a little.
She was 28 running a successful baking business; her best friend was her
business partner; she was living the life doing what she loved and there was
nothing she wanted and could not have. Only if her parents would understand
–You see 28, single and best friends with a guy isn’t exactly the best
combination an Indian girl should have. This was the reason she moved out and
was living alone. Because no matter how independent and successful she was, for
her parents she still was a disappointment.
‘At least
they don’t know I smoke’ she thought to herself. She was still in her thoughts
and did not see Anirudh come in. he simply walked up to her took the half
burned cigarette from her hand and extinguished it in an ashtray without saying
a word. He hated it when she smoked but he knew that his entire lecture was
going to fall on deaf ears. He then looked at her and smiled Red really was her
color
“So are you playing who wore it best
with the cupcakes?” he
asked her as he loaded the cupcakes in his car.
“Please everyone knows I am hotter
and sweeter at the same time”
Samira
answered as she got in the front seat. Anirudh rolled his eyes. He got behind
the wheels and started to drive. The Fm radio of his car played an overhyped
bollywood song Samira gave him a dirty look. While he gave her the ugliest grin
one could imagine. Samira rolled her eyes and plugged her earphones in. Sia’s
Chandelier played in her ears. She looked at him and smiled at the fact as to
how many people have confused them to be a couple. Including their
parents! She remembered all the times
their parents especially her mom insisted her to marry him. Not that she never
toyed with the idea of doing the same, She was pretty sure He did too. And
somehow they knew this should never happen.
She remember how every single breakup of theirs was followed by the
other one coming in with Chinese food and Sula Riesling which was always
finished by Samira irrespective of who had the broken heart .
How she was
the one who stayed with Anirudh when his dad had a heart attack. Or how he made
sure they were never cheated. Or after
an entire night of drinking he would get her home put her to bed and leave.
Only to come back the next morning and make her nutella French toast. She always makes some extra cupcakes just for
him. In their little world there were no judgments and no expectations. She was still engrossed in her thoughts when
they reached the venue Chandelier was now replaced by Everytime by Brittany
spears. She came back reality; she went to the back office while He unloaded
the cupcakes. It took them a while to set the table and decorate the cakes and
it looked just the way they wanted. Anirudh looked at her; She looked just like
those cupcakes she had made delicate, Pretty and beautiful! He wondered how his
life would be Samira was not a part of it. He would have probably been a web
designer for some big multinational Or Some big corporate company. He would
have earned better and lived comfortably but he would have missed the rush of
completing orders and organizing parties.
And he would have missed Samira. He would miss their fights and patch ups.
He would miss waiting outside of trial room while she tried dresses or be his
shopping assistant. He would miss making her nutella French toast when she was
hung over and soup when she was unwell. It was tiresome to handle someone like
Samira but he didn’t hate it not even for a moment.
Everyone
around them wondered who they were! If they were friend! Did they love each other? What do you call a
relationship like that? What do you label it as? Everyone around them wondered
do they deserve each other or maybe something better? But they knew, they knew
they loved each other and also that they can never be in love with each other.
In their little world they were the perfect cupcake. She was the flour, the
eggs, sugar and essence while he was the color, the flavor, the buttermilk and
salt. They were the perfect measurement, the perfect amount, Beaten to
perfection, Baked just right. They knew it was the perfect batter. Anything in
excess will destroy it; Put it straight to the dumpster. This was a
relationship that needed no label because it could not be defined. It wasn’t a
relationship at all. They were cupcakes different everyday. Some days they were
bitter and sweet like mocha cupcakes, other days just plain and simple like
vanilla. And sometimes they needed a lot of work like the red velvet. At the
end of the day however just like these delicious cupcakes their life was sweet
and fulfilling. And no matter how hard they had to work, how patient they have
to be A bite of that cupcake makes it all worth.
Samira saw
Anirudh coming towards her he waved the cheque as he smiled at her.
“Well taxes
and buying price later we have a good 30% profit.” Anirudh said.
“Time to
celebrate then” Samira split their cupcake in half.
“This is
delicious Samira you have done it again.” Anirudh said still stuffing his face.
“Hey
Anirudh” she said “thanks”!
“Thanks? For
what?” he asked.
“Just being
you!”
She was
thankful for Anirudh just the way he was. Just the way her cupcake was.
Please read it share it as much as you can
and tell me about it
until next week
buh bye !!
