A Bargain Made with Frosting

Blind Dates and Fiery Spice: A Recipe for Chaos

A week had passed since the fiasco at the convenience store, and both Shivay and Annika had relegated the incident to the dusty corners of their memories.

Annika bustled around Mrs. Patel's bakery, her familiar domain. The aroma of freshly baked bread hung heavy in the air, a symphony of sweet and savory that filled her with a sense of contentment. Today, she had finished her morning baking tasks early, leaving a precious half-hour before her afternoon shift at the cafe down the street. Deciding to seize the opportunity for some shut-eye, Annika curled up on a table in the back, the rhythmic clinking of cooling pans a soothing lullaby.

A voice jolted her awake. It was Mrs. Patel, her face etched with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. "Annika, wake up, darling," she said, her voice hushed. "I have something to tell you."

Annika, still groggy, rubbed her eyes. "Must be important," she mumbled, "sacrificing my beauty sleep for this."

Mrs. Patel chuckled. "Annika, you know I mentioned a few days ago that the wealthy Oberoi family was looking for a bride for their sons?"

Annika, her memory jogging, nodded. "Yes, I remember."

A sudden realization dawned on her. "Wait," she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. "Are you telling me they want us to bake their wedding cake?"

"Forget the wedding cake," Mrs. Patel continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "There's been a change of plans. They've decided to choose a bride based on compatibility, not social status. Background doesn't matter - poor, rich, anyone is game. And guess what?"

Annika's brow furrowed. A premonition sparked within her.

"I submitted your biodata, and you were selected!" Mrs. Patel declared triumphantly.

Annika's jaw dropped. Marriage? Not a chance. Opening her own bakery was the only dream she harbored. "Aunty, you know I'm not interested in getting married," she protested. "My heart is set on opening a bakery. Why would you do this?"

A hint of worry clouded Mrs. Patel's usually cheerful eyes. Annika had a history of turning down potential suitors Mrs. Patel had tried to set her up with. "Annika, darling," she began gently, "I'm not asking you to rush down the aisle. Just meet him, get to know him. If things click, you can always consider marriage later. Besides, think of the possibilities. If you marry into the Oberoi family, you'll be financially secure and can open your bakery much sooner."

Annika frowned. The idea of relying on someone else, even for financial stability, went against her independent spirit. "But Aunty," she argued, "you know I want to do this on my own. I even refused to take money from you. How can you suggest this?"

Seeing her resistance, Mrs. Patel played her final card - the emotional one. "Annika, you know I see you as more than an employee, like my own daughter," she said, her voice thick with feigned hurt. "That's why I submitted your profile for a marriage proposal. But perhaps I've overstepped. Maybe I'm just your boss after all?"

Annika sighed, knowing Mrs. Patel well enough to see through the act. "Alright, alright," she conceded, "I'll go and meet this guy. But don't get your hopes high. He's probably going to reject me anyway."

A triumphant smile spread across Mrs. Patel's face. Wasting no time, she sent a message with the time and place of the meeting. As Annika stared at the message, a knot of apprehension formed in her stomach. This wasn't how she envisioned her day unfolding. A blind date with a wealthy stranger? It felt more like a recipe for disaster than a happily ever after.

An unspoken war erupted within her. Grumbling under her breath, she cursed the Oberoi guy who decided he needed a wife. But resignation soon gave way to a mischievous glint in her eyes. This "arranged meeting" wasn't part of her life recipe. She wouldn't be some passive ingredient waiting to be chosen. No, she would be the fiery spice, ensuring this Oberoi guy rejected her before things got complicated.

With a newfound resolve, she headed to the cafe for her afternoon shift, determined to stick to her routine until the day of the fateful meeting - the day she'd ensure the Oberoi heir spectacularly rejected her.

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Unbeknownst to Annika, the whirlwind that was about to change her life had its origins in a decision made by Shivay. He had agreed to take the reins of the Oberoi Empire, a responsibility that came with an unexpected stipulation - a marriage. Shivay, ever the pragmatist, had acquiesced, leaving the choice of his bride entirely to his Grandma Kalyani.

This news did not sit well with Pinky, Shivay's stepmother. She harbored the ambition for her son, Rohit, to eventually lead the Oberoi family. Shivay's compliance had thrown a wrench in her carefully crafted plans.

Undeterred, Pinky devised a new strategy. She subtly influenced Shivay's grandmother, Kalyani, to cast a wider net for potential brides. The criteria, Pinky suggested, should focus on compatibility rather than social standing. This seemingly fair proposition masked a sinister motive. Pinky planned to manipulate the selection process, ensuring all the wealthy girls were directed towards Rohit. Kalyani, unaware of Pinky's machinations, agreed, and soon they had a pool of two hundred potential brides.

Pinky then made her move. She meticulously curated a list of the wealthiest girls for Rohit, leaving Kalyani with a mixed bag of profiles - wealthy, upper middle class, middle class, and even some from less fortunate backgrounds.

Annika's profile, submitted by Mrs. Patel, landed amidst this less glamorous stack. Despite her humble background, Annika's independent spirit and passion for baking shone through. Kalyani, seeking a genuine connection for Shivay, saw potential in Annika and included her in the shortlist.

Meanwhile, oblivious to the machinations behind the scenes, Shivay readily agreed to meet the girls. He dedicated his evenings to this arranged bride parade, unaware that Pinky had orchestrated a marathon of ten meetings per day. Kalyani, caught in the web of Pinky's deceit, remained silent, hoping at least one of the girls would resonate with Shivay.

Little did he know, he was about to embark on a series of blind dates, each one carefully selected to fulfill someone else's agenda, not his own. These orchestrated encounters, far from leading him towards a predictable marriage, were about to introduce him to a fiery baker named Annika, a woman who would challenge his world in ways he never imagined.

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