MALA: With the arrival of the Christmas season, Ashitha's cake life is doubly sweet. She has postponed her studies for a while after finding herself a path for life. Ashitha, daughter of the late Shine and Biju of Ilanthikara Mattappilly, now makes and sells cakes worth Rs 5,000 a day. She makes a profit of around Rs 40,000 a month. Buyers also benefit from her cakes as the prices are 15 percent cheaper than from shops.

Ashitha was going to a job-training class after B.Com when the lockdown was imposed. In the absence of classes, she made a cake. Mom and brother liked it. She baked another one for relatives. They also encouraged and this excited her. She went to Akshaya and applied for a license which she got within days. Ashitha borrowed Rs 15,000 from her mother and bought the goods. After the death of her father 12 years ago, her mother Biju, an office assistant at Ilanthikara High School, supported him.

With the profit she earned, Ashitha bought a scooter and mobile. The cake is delivered by order on this vehicle. She also makes videos of decorating cakes on her YouTube channel 'At She Bakes'. She does everything related to the video-camera, editing and presentation-all by herself. She records the video on alternate days. The channel has over 25,000 subscribers. Ashitha also answers doubts during live sessions. It takes an average of two hours to make and decorate a cake.

Prices range from Rs 270 to Rs 1300

The only equipment Ashitha has is a beater she bought for Rs 1,500. Cakes range from Rs 270 to Rs 1300. When the order is high, you can often get up to four hours of sleep.