Her Special Ingredient

She always loved to bake, especially with her mum, who made some of the most amazing cakes she ever had. As little girl, she used to stand on a stool and would help her mum to mix the ingredients. As her mum read the ingredients from her cake book, which had recipes for various types of cakes that she had made, she would hand it over to her to be added to the mixing bowl. But there was always that one ingredient her mom would ask her to close her eyes as she added it to the mixture. Her mom called it her secret special ingredient.

Once the ingredients were mixed, she would pour the batter into the tray (she loved to lick the remaining batter, which tasted yumm). She would then stand by the oven and watch intently as the cakes baked in the oven. The smell of the cakes baking would fill her nostrils and would intricate her.  Her mumma called it her baking high!

She always wanted to know what exactly was this special ingredient. But her mother just smiled and told her that she would tell her what the ingredients when the time was right. When ever she asked her mum for the ingredient , this was always the response she got.

Now as time went by, she started to spending lesser and lesser time with her mum, like all children at her age do, after all they have other priorities in life.

Very soon she will as neck deep in books. She studied hard so she could achieve the percentage she needed to follow her dreams. Baking and the special ingredient was pushed to the back her mind. Her mother still continued to make beautiful cakes from her book.

Once she completed her studies, she got a jaw dropping offer but it was in a different country. She hesitated to leave home but her mother encouraged and told her to follow her dreams. So after much deliberation, she took up the offer and shifted to a new country. 

It was here  where she met her husband. After a whirlwind courtship, they decided to tie the knot. Her mother made them the most amazing and beautiful wedding cake.

Soon she had a daughter of her own, who absolutely loved the cakes her granny.

Even though she tried to make cakes, her daughter never did like it. She always said it was not tasty like granny’s, much to her disappointment. Her mother could see this but still always avoided the question on the special, secret ingredient.

Then one day, she received a book in her courier. She recognised that this was the recipe book her mum used to bake her cakes. Finally she would know what the secret special ingredient. 

As she opened the book, a note fell from it. She picked it up and read it. As she read it her eyes welled up tears.

My dearest Daughter, her mother wrote. The secret ingredient is YOU. It has always been you. What made each cake special was my love for you, the joy I felt baking those cakes for you, spending those moments with you, seeing joy in your eyes when you had it. You are my special ingredient. I hope you get to share the similar moments with your daughter. And that’s how I know my love will continue to grow l, through you. Happy Baking!  Love Maa!

On an impulse she took the next flight to her mum. She found herself knocking at a familiar door. Her mum opened door only to find her daughter running into her arms and crying. 

For a moment her mother got worried. Was something wrong. She only thing she could hear her daughter murmur was “I want to bake cake”, which she heard as “I want cake”, which took her by surprise.

But then she realised what her daughter really said.

That they made they made the most amazing cake, the best she had ever had, the she had ever made. She could finally add that secret special ingredients that her cakes missing.

Form that day on she added love in everything she made and it was the best she ever made. It became her special ingredient!

A Change Could Do You Good

They met each other in the strangest of times, when humanity was locked up, and an unseen enemy threatened the very existence of their species. Two lonely souls in search of companionship in the most unlikeliest of places and at the most unlikeliest of times, came together, when they felt all hope was lost.

They chatted and flirted and talked to each other for hours on end. Slowly and steadily they began to fall for each other. But they were wary of saying it out loud, cause they had been burned before, and were bruised and broken, and they didn’t want to get hurt again. But what they felt for each other was deep and true, and those words were inevitable.

So when they finally proclaimed their love for each other it felt like their search had now come to an end. They were each other’s soulmate, destined to meet and be with each other.

So at the first sign of unlocking, they flew to each other, to seal their love with kiss. 

By and by as the days went by, they discovered more of each other. Like the peeling off the layers of an onion, each brought with it something new, each layer brought with it tears. 

If their mutual admiration brought them together, their differences threatened to tear them apart. Each moment they spent led them to discover that they were similar as chalk and cheese. 

They presumed that they weren’t what the other was looking for. They were stubborn, stubborn as any one could be, refusing to give an inch to the other.  Even though they loved each other deeply, they struggled with their differences, with threatened to let their love be undone.

What they didn’t realise that opposites attract and change is the only constant. If they wanted to make it work they would needed to change, change for the good. Cause an acceptance could only be possible if it was complete, or there would be no acceptance at all. And if they wanted their love to work, they would need to bring change, a change in their perception, a change in their views. They needed to breakdown the walls they had put up and pave their own way through. Cause if they refused to change, their love would perish. 

All they needed to do is to let their love bring about the change they needed. And though change would never be easy, the change would do them good.

So they decided to give their love a chance, to let their love thrive and grow, to bring about a change in each other, a change for the good. 

And they continue to thrive and love and let it slowly effect a change. And through the ups and downs, and the disagreements, they have learned to accept change.

He Doesn’t Know That They Know That He Knows

He stood there at the door of his room wondering if it was right thing to do. He could hear his parents talking in the living room. They had just finished dinner, and were catching up on the events of the day. 

It was eating him that he had to keep this from them. This was his secret. He had never ever kept anything from them before. Thus it was even more difficult. He couldn’t just go out there and blurt it out, as if it were nothing. This was important to him, the discovery of which had left him confused, though it did answer a number of awkward events, questions and feelings. 

Would they accept him knowing this? Was that even a question, he was their “Medical Marvel”! They couldn’t be upset with their baby boy (a name that he distinctly didn’t like, but was willing to use it to his advantage)!

But this was no ordinary thing. It wasn’t like flunking examination, getting sent to the principal’s office, getting detention. It would be easier to tell them this, cause he knew what their reaction would be. But there was no way of telling how they would react to what he had to share with them!

He had to tell them, he had been quiet for way too long. But di they accept him, a question that was nagging, and it frightened him that he didn’t know the answer to question. And to make it more frightening, they were quiet devout, and took part in the activities of the church. Faith, always played a hug role in their lives. This made the prospect of telling them his truth even more frightening.

Just then his phone buzzed. It was a message from his best friend Hannah, who had been his biggest supporter in this discovery process. It was she who had always been encouraging and supportive of this process. 

So he took a deep breath and stepped out of his room. His parents were in their usual spot in the hall. He hesitated for a bit, but he was determined to do it. It was now or never.

“Mum, Dad, I’ve something say to you,” he said, rather hesitatingly.

“What happened, son ?” His father asked.

“Well nothing quite happened,” he continued  nervously, “There’s something I want to share with you.”

“Yes, you can share anything with us ,” said his mum.

“It’s something I only recently discovered, and don’t know how I can share it with you”, he said trying to muster all the courage he could.

“Go on son, we hear you!” His father chimed in.

He wanted to tell them but he was too nervous and scared. He could feel their boring into his skin.

“I am in love with Hannah!” He blurted out.

“Huh!” Said his parents in perfect unison, seeming disappointed.

Their response took him by surprise. This was not the response he was expecting, but this was not the response they would have if he had told the truth.

“Well,” his father finally said, putting end to an uncomfortable silence, “we are happy for you both!”

“We always thought you and Hannah would make a beautiful couple,” his mother, “with all the time you two spend together!”

He should felt relief but instead he felt all the more burdened for not being able to speak the truth. 

Just them door bell rang, interrupting a very awkward moment.

When opened it , it was Hannah at the door. This wasn’t his lucky day.

Before he could say anything his mother grabbed Hannah and hugged her, taking poor Hannah by surprise!

“Our son just told us everything,”his father said to a very confused Hannah, “we are very happy for you both.”

“Your welcome!” Said a bewildered Hannah, not quite knowing what exactly was happening.

“Hannah dear, would you join me in the over here!” Said his mother with a mischievous grin, and a wink which he didn’t notice.

He was now very confused with all the happening. He could not make what was going on. What he once again failed to see is his mom whisper in Hannah’s ears, “He doesn’t know that we know that he knows, so play along!”

“So tell me Hannah,” asked his mum teasingly, “how has our son been treating you!”

To his surprise Hannah answered cheerfully, “so far he’s been a good boyfriend.”

He response and her change in body language took him by surprise. What exactly was happening here!

“So is our son a good kisser?” Asked his father.

Now he was even more embarrassed. He turned into million shades of red.

“Dad, how could you ask such a question,” he protested, “Hannah, you don’t have to answer that!”

“No, no, that’s perfectly fine, “ replied Hannah, “the fact is your son hasn’t even kissed me yet!” 

“What!” said his mom looking at him sternly, “let’s put an end to this. Son, you need to kiss her soon!”

“Yes maa, I will do that soon,” he protested!

“Why not do it right now, “ his father suggested with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

“That’s wonderful suggestion”, she said, much to his surprise, leaving him very surprise s and embarrassed. He couldn’t make what to do of this very strange predicament he found himself in.

“Come now son,  you don’t have to hesitate,” his father said playfully. “Don’t make the beautiful young lady wait!”

So they puckered up and tried to kiss each other. It was,  perhaps, the most awkwardly embarrassing kiss, he had ever had. Not that he had kissed anyone, guy or girl. So he had to soldier on.

As they tried to get closer, it became all the more awkward.

“I can’t , I can’t, i can’t! I can’t kiss Hannah!” He exclaimed.

“I why can’t you kiss Hannah?” His mum asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

“Because I am gay! I can’t kiss Hannah because I am gay! He cried out, and waited for the worse to happen. Instead he heard both his parents say, “We know!”

Once again they took him by surprise.

“You knew? How? And yet you let me go through all this!” 

Be notice that his parents and Hannah were all in on this prank.

“Son we always knew! We knew you were different,” said his father.

“What kind of parent would we be if we didn’t realise our boy was beautifully different, after all you are our medical marvel!” His mother said.

“So you are not upset that I am gay?” He asked.

“Of course we are not.” Said his father”We are not upset about who you are. We would always want to live you truth. And no son of ours is going to live a lie.”

“Son we love you no matter, no matter your choices, or your orientation. God made you perfect!” His mother.

Now he couldn’t hold back his tears. He ran and hugged them both tightly and started sobbing. They completed  the hug by pulling Hannah into.

He was finally happy to know that they knew that he knew that they knew and was happy for him!