Everything is Fair in Love and Baking

oh nakhrewaali

@oh_nakhrewaali

#6: Everything is Fair in Love and Baking

The lobby of the Oberoi hotel was buzzing with the excited chattering of bakers, the noisy whirring of ovens and mixers, and the metallic clattering of utensils. 

Priya and Ram rushed in and quickly scanned the crowd of bakers, spotting Sara and Sandy at their designated table. They walked up to them and Priya hugged her sisters, to wish them all the best. 

"The bakers from the Yazdani bakery are here, and I am really nervous," Sara said to Priya who squeezed her hand in reassurance. 

Ram looked at Sandy, his brow raised in a questioning look. 

"At last year's Christmas bake fest, the Yazdanis made a six tier Christmas cake and it won the fest. Sara Di was the second runner-up. We had assumed they wouldn't participate this year because of Covid, but they are here, so Sara Di's blood pressure has hit the roof," Sandy explained, surprisingly calm.  

"How come you are so calm?" Ram whispered, seeing that Priya was going in her Chandi mode. 

"I just overheard that the Yazdanis forgot to bring their Powder mixer, so I was hoping that it would get delayed. If that happens, it will affect their speed and give us an advantage over them!" Sandy whispered back to him conspiratorially, careful to avoid Priya’s earshot.

"Such idiots!" Ram guffawed. 

"Do you think we can somehow delay the Powder mixer?" Ram asked, with an evil smirk.

"Ram jiju!" Sandy looked at him in mock horror. 

"What? I just think Sara should win this competition. The prize money is huge and will help with the loan. Priya is really stressed about the loan," he added as an explanation.

"And is Priya Di's stress affecting you?" Sandy raised her eyebrow teasingly and he glared at her. 

"Ok, sorry, but if you could cause a traffic jam at Peddar road, sure, we could win," Sandy said, sarcastically. 

"What if, when it gets here, we cut it's wire or something?" Ram asked, musing aloud. 

"What if Priya hears you two plotting and decides to use the rolling pin on you?" Priya’s voice came up behind them. 

Ram whirled around to meet his wife’s murderous look and gulped.   

"You are a horrible, horrible person, Mr. Kapoor!" Priya raised her hands to her hips and raised her eyebrows at him. 

"Hey, we were just thinking of some winning strategies," Ram supplied lamely. 

"Right. And you wouldn't have used any of those strategies?" Priya asked, her eyebrows raised. 

"I… I am going to go help Sara Di," Sandy said and sprinted away, cleverly escaping the sticky scene. 

“Traitor!” Ram called out to her and then turned to face his wife who was still glaring at him, waiting for him to answer. He shuffled his feet awkwardly.

“Well. I love Yazdani, he seems like a good man," he said and then looked up as she waited, not satisfied with his answer, knowing there was more to come. He sighed and threw up his hands in defeat.

"Okay, I was going to ask Adi to do something about it."

"Mr. Kapoor! " Priya snapped at him in her worst Chandi voice.

"Okay, okay. I’m sorry. Those idiot Yazdanis can win this thing for all I care. Them and their stupid six tier cakes!” He made a face. 

Priya couldn't help but break into giggles at his expression. 

"You are so cute, Mr. Kapoor," she said between her giggles, and Ram looked at her in surprise and blushed, clearly thrown by her teasing. 

"We can just hope that Sara Di wins, and even if she doesn't, it's not a big deal."

"But the prize money? It would have helped with the loan!" he said.

"We are all adults here, Mr. Kapoor. We can handle losing a competition. Well, all of us can except Sandy. And the loan will be taken care of somehow, I am sure of that. Do you believe in us?"

"Of course, Priya. You five are the most badass women I have ever met. But don't tell Brinda I said this, she'll murder me in my sleep for not counting her in your group!"

"Thank you, and your secret is safe with me. Let's go cheer Sara Di. She is making Cookieburra and a Christmas themed vanilla-chocolate flavored cake." 

She held his arm and steered him towards the audience seats. 

As Priya got distracted watching her sister work, Ram sneakily typed a message to Adi.

"Hey, how feasible would it be for you to drive our factory dump truck up to the Oberoi hotel and cause a traffic jam? Asking for a friend. P. S. Don’t you dare tell Priya about this text or I’ll tell Brinda what you did that night at the pub!"