Yes, go ahead, skim through the previous chapters because its been a bit too long and now you can give some peace to my inbox but I still love you guys, so yes, anamika is back.

"Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight"

-Perfect, Ed Sheeran

This song helped me get through weeks of hell also known as exam stress.

Enjoy xo

Chapter 11

I was grinning the entire way but as soon as I reached his bakery, the smile vanished from my face.

The door was already unlocked and there was someone inside.

Fuck, is it a burglar?

But there is literally nothing you can steal from an empty bakery other than I don't know, flour and cream?

I opened the door, tentatively and stepped inside.

My jaw fell open when I realized what was happening. Or more specifically, who has happened.

My brother.

Oh my darling brother.

I hope you have decided upon your coffin.

I sure hope you have.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

He turned behind and that's when I saw the flour on his hands and him wearing the same apron that Jeremy wears.

"No way!" I yelped when realization dawned on me.

Soham sighed. "I knew he wouldn't trust me alone with the bakery," he mumbled under his breath.

I narrowed my eyes at him as I whipped out my phone.

"Hello," came Jer's croaky voice through phone and I felt a pang of guilt for disturbing him when he was sick but this grave problem had to be solved immediately.

"Jer-"

"He has to be there to help you. In fact, you both have to help each other, its a Saturday and it gets quite busy and you both are amateurs who don't know a thing about baking-"

I cut the phone on him and Soham smirked in return, "Good morning."

"Oh yes, indeed its a very good morning," I mumbled back.

He laughed. His laugh reverberating in the quite bakery and also sending somersaults to my stomach.

"Here's Jer's recipes. I'm done with the choco-chip cake and its in the oven and also, I'm almost done with the blueberry muffins now so you can start with the others."

"Cool," I said.

We worked in silence for a few hours while some music played in the bakery's radio till it became ten.

Time to open the bakery.

Right on cue, Soham turned to me, "We are ready with the first batch of almost everything on his menu."

I nodded before going ahead and flipping the closed board to show open.

Thank god that Jeremy is a clean freak and had cleaned up the floor the night before closing because I didn't have it in me to clean the floors too.

Yes, baking is tiring, damn.

I had a sudden appraisal for all the hard work that Jer does and promised myself that I'll come to help him whenever I'm free.

By the time I put tissues on each table, our first customer was in.

An aged woman wearing a really pretty cardigan.

She collapsed dramatically on the first table near the counter almost like she owned it.

"Good morning," both of our voices echoed together at the same time which was quickly followed by a glare exchange.

The old woman giggled, "Where's Jeremy?"

Okay, so she was a regular customer.

"He's sick," again, two voices.

Why is this happening?

I didn't look at him this time.

"What would you like, ma'am?" I asked before Soham could open his mouth.

"The regular," she said but when we looked at her clueless, she chuckled again. "Oh, sorry, I forgot that Jeremy isn't here. Bless the poor boy's soul and I do hope he gets well soon. My family thinks I'm getting very religious by going to church every morning but they don't know about the treat I give myself after going to church," she said, winking at us.

Soham and I laughed, my insides becoming warm with the way his manly chuckle intertwined with my laugh.

"A slice of his heavenly coconut cake, please."

"Sure ma'am," Soham replied as he took out a slice of the cake.

"Are you his friends?"

"Nah, didn't have a choice when it came to association with Jeremy. I'm his twin," I replied, trying my best to hide a grin when the old woman chuckled.

"Ah, now I see slight resemblance."

"Same nose, same eyes but polar opposites when it comes to personality."

I blushed and looked away.

I didn't know he noticed the similarities between his best friend and me.

The woman smiled at us, knowingly before the slice of cake was put before her and she looked at it as if it was her son who returned home after days.

If Trisha was here, she would probably freak out about the woman having diabetes. Glad I wasn't Trisha then.

Irony laughed at me.

Because yes, there was a time I wanted to be her.

Damn it.

I looked towards Soham on instinct and he was busy talking to the woman, a smile on his face.

God, this guy was too good-looking and charming for his own good.

One by one, some other costumers came trickling in and yes, it was really busy by noon time. At some point, I was serving and baking at the same time.

At some point, Soham and I were crashing against each other (damn, from when did he start having such a defined body?) and instead of glaring at each other, we were exchanging chuckles.

It was definitely the sweet aroma around us playing with our senses.

"Rainbow cake! Rainbow cake!" a kid with a high pitched voice was screaming and I was glad that Soham was dealing with the kid because kids and I weren't a good equation.

"Yes, princess, sure thing," he was saying and I watched him deal with her with such patience.

"Your boyfriend is definitely a keeper. Sometimes, even my husband doesn't know how to deal with Rutu."

I instantly looked away from him to see the kid's mother standing in front of the cash counter.

I was about to correct her but Soham walked up to us with the order for payment.

By the time it was afternoon, the peak hour was done and there were only two other customers leisurely enjoying their dessert.

I picked up the rag and started cleaning up the tables, humming a tune under my breath and a smile on my face, because its been long since I've had fun like this.

Suddenly, I felt someone looking at me and found Soham gazing at me intensely with an unreadable expression. He quickly averted his eyes when I caught his gaze.

What was that?

"Hey, you hungry? I just baked a chocolate devil cake."

"Did you poison it?" I asked, sceptically.

"Not yet, but would you like me too?"

I tried my best to suppress my grin as I walked behind the counter to where he was standing and pulled up a stool in front of the freshly baked cake.

He handed me a fork and cut me a slice.

We ate in silence and luckily, no costumer came in because I realized how hungry I was. I deserved that slice of heaven.

"You are good at baking, you know."

"Jeremy's recipes. I just followed them word to word."

"Soham being modest? Am I hearing it right?"

He smiled sheepishly at me before cutting himself a slice.

"How are things going on with you and Sarah?"

His smile faltered for just a bit before a wide grin was on his face.

"She is great. Smart, funny-"

"Just don't break her heart. She's a nice person," I said, cutting him off.

He looked at me intensely, searching my face while I concentrated on eating the slice of cake in front of me.

"I won't," he mumbled under his breath before looking away from me. "Not intentionally, atleast," he added quietly. I don't think it was meant for me to hear so I let it pass.

Silence descended upon us again.

"I had fun you know."

"Yes, me too," I replied smiling up at him.

He met my eyes before his gaze lowered to my mouth. My breath caught as his hand cupped my face before his finger came forward to swipe at my lower lip, "You have a bit of chocolate here."

But his hand didn't move away and nor did I.

A small rational part was shouting at me. Screaming that this wasn't right.

But the larger irrational part of me, induced by all the sugar I ate today to test and try the desserts, was making me move closer to him with my heart racing.

His gaze was switching between my mouth and my eyes as he drew closer too. He was close enough that I could smell the chocolate in his breath and I knew it was that moment.

That moment of acceptance. A breath's space between my lips and his.

We heard the door open right then and we jumped apart.

My heart racing faster than ever and my face a deep red.

"Hey guys," Sarah came into view. A bright smile on her face.

Oh my god.

What just happened?

~*~

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