The sixth month began with a clear pressure on Ashburn's shoulders, but it was the good kind—progress pushing him forward rather than problems dragging him down. His routine now stretched beyond simply running a business. The dream that he, Aisha, and Kainat shared was slowly gaining form, and this month they were ready for their biggest social step yet: opening the first large branch of the Charity Kitchen of Kainat in Bahawalnagar.
The three of them sat together one afternoon in the Ashrock city office's conference room. The meeting table was covered with notes, maps, rough sketches, and a few budget sheets. Aisha reviewed a list of potential costs while Kainat observed the city layout on her tablet. Ashburn leaned forward in his chair, listening to both of them before making his final decision.
"We start from Bahawalnagar," Kainat said calmly, tapping the map. "Ashrock's small trial kitchen performed well, but Bahawalnagar will be our first major branch. It has the population and the need."
Aisha nodded. "We'll need a location that's easily accessible for low-income families, but also spacious enough to manage the daily crowd. It can't be in a congested commercial area. We need proper serving lines and space for the cooking area."
Ashburn folded his arms, thinking through the operational side. "I'll handle the surveying myself. Kainat, you'll go with me to choose the most suitable area. Aisha, you'll prepare the structure of the operations—required utensils, cleaning supplies, storage plan, and estimated daily capacity."
Aisha gave a small approving smile. "I'll start preparing everything tonight."
Kainat looked at Ashburn, a quiet confidence in her expression. "Make sure the place feels like it belongs to the people."
"It will," he replied.
The plan was set.
The next morning, Ashburn and Kainat rode together to Bahawalnagar. The weather was clear and the road quiet, giving them extra time to discuss small operational details. When they reached the city, they began with the central areas around the commercial hub. The foot traffic was heavy, and there were several available units, but none fit their vision.
Kainat observed the crowd for a while before saying, "There's too much noise here. Lines will spill onto the road. Managing discipline will become difficult."
Ashburn agreed. "This is good for a normal branch, not for charity distribution. We need efficiency, not crowd pressure."
They moved toward the old grain market where several large buildings were available for rent. One property had a wide hall and high ceiling, but Ashburn noted that water access was weak and the streets nearby were too narrow for smooth operations. Another place had enough size but poor ventilation.
After almost two hours of surveying, Ashburn suggested they go toward the outskirts. Kainat raised her brow slightly. "You're thinking about the neighborhoods near the bypass?"
"Yes," he replied, steering the bike toward the road. "That area has families who need support the most."
They checked three potential locations there as well. The first was solid but overpriced. The second lacked proper flooring. The third stood slightly apart from the others—a standalone building with a wide front gate, reliable water supply, and a perfectly proportioned interior. The surrounding area was filled with small homes, workshops, and local shops—exactly the demographic they intended to support.
Ashburn stepped inside the building, measured the width with his eyes, checked the walls, then examined the boundary at the back where a washing area could be established. "This is the one."
Kainat walked ahead of him, scanning the interior. "Yes. People can reach this easily. And the space is enough for both the kitchen and the serving area."
He nodded once, firmly. "I'll meet the owner tomorrow and finalize it."
Kainat looked at the building again, her expression calm and thoughtful. "This will help more people than we even realize."
Ashburn glanced at her briefly. "Good things grow one step at a time."
With the charity planning moving forward, Ashburn returned to internal business matters. The two new shops opened in Fiazabad earlier in the year were now entering their true test period. Ashburn met with Faraz, the Bahawalnagar regional manager, in the same office where they had held the meeting earlier.
Faraz handed him a printout. "Both branches show a combined sales increase of about fourteen percent. Customer flow is consistent. The northern Fiazabad branch is performing slightly better."
"Good," Ashburn said, going through the numbers. "Any staffing issues?"
"A bit in the evening hours. I've assigned an additional cashier to avoid delays."
"And stock rotation?"
"Smooth. No complaints."
Ashburn closed the folder. "Keep a closer eye this month. We're adding two new snack products, so shelf placement and visibility matter."
Faraz nodded. "Understood, sir."
The expansion of the factory began only a week later. Demand had grown faster than expected, and the new machinery installed earlier was already being fully utilized. Expanding the floor area by thirty percent was necessary, even if it meant temporary inconvenience.
The contractor guided him through the plan. "We'll shift your storage racks to the back. This entire section can become the roasting and packaging zone. Your ventilation lines will need an upgrade, but we can install two additional exhaust fans."
Aisha visited during the inspection, inspecting the storage racks and the temperature controls. "The peanuts will need separate storing. High oil content means faster spoilage in warm corners."
"I've already planned a temperature-controlled rack for them," Ashburn said.
"And the Nimko?" she asked.
"Dry ingredients, so they're easier. We'll test a few combinations and finalize the best-tasting blend."
It took three days to finalize both new snack products: roasted peanuts and a special masala Nimko mix. Ashburn personally monitored the roasting process for peanuts and the seasoning balance for the Nimko. Quality mattered more than speed.
When the samples were ready, Aisha analyzed cost projections while Kainat suggested packaging ideas. Her idea of adding a short tagline, "Serving Happiness," appealed to both Ashburn and Aisha. It was subtle and meaningful—just enough to reflect the brand's direction.
But product creation alone wasn't enough. Ashburn still needed reliable suppliers to support the new scale. For three full days, he traveled through Chistian, Haroonabad, Fort Abbas, and nearby rural areas, negotiating raw material deals with farmers and small suppliers.
Some were hesitant at first. One older peanut farmer looked doubtful as he held the contract papers.
"Companies often change the rate later," the man said. "I can't gamble with my harvest."
Ashburn met his gaze directly. "I don't change my commitments. If I give a rate, I honor it. I don't build my business on deception."
The farmer studied his expression before slowly nodding. "Then I'll work with you."
Faraz noticed how each meeting ended with firm trust rather than pressure. "You treat suppliers like long-term partners," he said. "Most buyers negotiate only for advantage."
"Advantage is temporary," Ashburn replied. "Stability comes from trust."
By the final week of the sixth month, the raw material network was secure, the new snack lines were ready for launch, and the charity kitchen was days away from being finalized. On the evening of the 29th, the three of them sat together again, this time in a quiet restaurant corner, reviewing the final steps.
Aisha went through the checklist. "Location selected. Documents almost ready. Kitchen equipment list completed. Estimated daily serving capacity is around 400 people."
Kainat closed her tablet. "Once repairs begin, it should be ready in four to six weeks."
Ashburn nodded, feeling the pressure of responsibility and the satisfaction of progress. "Tomorrow, I'll finalize the rental agreement. After that, we move to construction and operational setup."
Kainat leaned back slightly, her voice steady and confident. "This will be our first major charity project. Many more will follow."
Ashburn looked at both of them. "This month wasn't easy. But it was necessary."
Aisha smiled softly. "Growth never is."
And with that, the sixth month closed—quietly, steadily, and successfully. Not just with business growth, but with the foundation of something far more meaningful: a place that would feed hundreds every day, built on the combined efforts and vision of the three people who believed in more than profit.
It was the beginning of impact—one that would grow with every month that followed.