“Zara is truly God-gifted for our business,” Mr Zaman said to his manager, Hira, after receiving a comment card from a regular customer.

“You are right, sir! I hope she continues to be the star of the team,” Hira replied, envying the compliment.

Mr Zaman was the owner of one of the best bakeries in town. Zara was an employee at the bakery for almost five years. The manager, Hira, had been working for a year. The staff mainly consisted of female workers, and for savoury baked food, there was the chef Minal, who was a really well-behaved girl and, unlike Hira, a very good company for Zara.

From delicious chocolate croissants to magnificent chocolate fountains, Zara made the best brownies, bars, doughnuts, tarts, mousses, fudges, truffles and sundaes. She was known among the team for everything nice, chocolate and sweet. Baking had long been a hobby for Zara, but she never knew that someday it would become a source of her earnings too!

Every morning, Hira would take rounds and check everything, never missing a chance to point out irrelevant things to Zara, and everyone noticed that. She craved the appreciation and acknowledgment that Zara received every day. But Hira failed to realise that her job was quite different from Zara’s, as her work only involved supervision, while Zara’s baking talent was the main force that attracted business.

One morning during her round, Hira went straight to Zara and began, “Miss Zara, according to the catalogue, there will be no white chocolate desserts on business days. Sir told me they rarely get sold.”

“My dear Hira, I know very well. I reckon you should check other workers and whether they need reminders.”

“I hope you don’t take her words to your head,” Minal said with concern. “I believe she is jealous of you and the appreciation you receive, or perhaps jealous of your talent.”

“Never mind her. I am so accustomed to her nagging. All I know is that I enjoy my work, and it’s a delight to work with you all and the too-generous Sir........

© Dawn Young Magazine