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!