Winged Dreams

Chapter 9: The Choices We Make

18th October, 2015

"But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners."

[Qur'an]

Chapter 9:

The Choices We Make

Dina sipped her coffee, dangling her legs as she sat on the counter top. She eyed Simran in sheer appreciation, observing as she placed the freshly baked cake on a wire rack and poured the chocolate sauce over it, covering every inch of the mud cake with it. She then took hold of the piping bag, swiftly moving her hand as the swirls of chocolate icing from the star shaped nozzle decorated the delight.

"Can I kidnap you and then bribe Tabasum for this cake in return for your freedom?"

Simran smiled in amusement at her friend's suggestion and replied, "You bake some delicious cakes yourself."

Dina shook her head at the compliment. "My chocolate mud cake in front of yours would resemble the real mud at construction sites."

Simran rolled her eyes at the exaggeration, and sprinkled some grated chocolate on top of the cake, smiling in satisfaction as she eyed the final result of her two hours of hard work.

Although she had started her baking studio less than a year back after finishing college, she was already being recognized by everyone around. She didn't run a full fledged bakery, but she took orders, and had a tie up with Cake Bake, where she baked cakes for them.

Keeping the mud cake in the fridge, she dumped all the utensils in the sink while she greased the cupcake tins with butter, and after pouring the batter, she placed the tray in the oven, having set the timer.

As she walked to the sink, Dina hopped down and offered to clean the counters and the baking mess.

"Tabasum should be here any minute, she said she'd collect it at five. Anyway, before you start, could you please message her and tell her the cake is ready?"

"Of course!" Dina nodded as she pulled out her phone from her pocket.

"Should I click a picture of the cake and send it to her through whatsapp? I'll probably add a caption saying, not everything that looks muddy is sand."

Simran laughed at her friend, enjoying this side of her. A silly Dina was very cute.

"You could do that if you like. But also mention that I didn't come up with the awful caption, that's a copy of the famous all that glitters isn't gold."

After opening the fridge and following her own suggestion, Dina sent the text to Tabasum and then flicked some flour on her friend's face, replying "The caption is awesome, not awful."

"Whatever floats your boat," Simran scoffed as she wiped her face with the back of her hand.

She wouldn't dare to throw flour or even sprinkle water and start a fight, she loved her kitchen too much to do that.

"Whatever let's you sleep at night," Dina countered playfully.

"Whatever-" Simran stopped mid sentence, her full blown grin contracting as a knock on the already open door interrupted their banter.

Both heads turned towards the door, and they found Asif standing there, one hand in his Jean pocket while the other held his phone.

He greeted them with salaam and the two friends mumbled their replies.