The Roti Canai Story

Once upon a time in a small town in Malaysia called Tanjong Malim, there lived a poor
family. Mr. Ramesh operates a small roti canai shop with the help of his wife Seetha and
3 children. Pavitra is the eldest girl. Jeevan and Laxman are the other 2 brothers. The
siblings would help their parent man the shop after they returned home from school.
Business is poor and the family struggles with not much income. What are we going to do
Ramesh asked Seetha to her husband with a sad heart? We do not have enough money to
buy flour to make roti. The children do not have new cloths to wear for Deepavali which
is drawing nearer. Ramesh could not answer except to shake his head in despair. Each
day is worst than the day before. The future looked bleak for them.
Ramesh has done all he could to draw the customer into his shop. He has played music,
put on color lights and hanged up nice posters. But the customers are just not coming in
because there are 2 more similar shops beside the bus station. Rameshs shop is the
furthest and customers are not willing to walk extra distant.
That day Ramesh left his shop opened for a few hours longer hoping that some customers
will patronize his shop. Unfortunately none came at all. Seetha sobbed while Ramesh
prepares to close his shop at mid night.
That night the family went to bed without saying a single word to each other. The mood
was so dull and neither wanted to talk. The children then kneeled down in the room and
looked out the window. They prayed for a miracle to happen. They loved their parent and
thought the family does not deserved to suffer.
The children were prayed as hard as they could.
Later while all were soundly asleep, a bright light appeared in the kitchen. It was a Deva
from heaven. With his super natural power, the Deva zapped on two pieces of roti canai.
The roti canai became alive - Chris and Bazlin. Again with his magical power the Deva
gave them hands and legs and told the two roti canai to help the family.
Do whatever you can to lessen the suffering of this family said the Deva. With that
command, the roti canai quickly went to work. Chris and Bazlin decided to make some
roti canai. They hope to make the best roti canai in Tanjong Malim.
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Though Chris and Bazlin are small in size, but they have big determination. They rolled
up their sleeve and worked. They worked and worked through-out the night. But it wasnt
smooth sailing and encountered problems. There is a bad cat in the shop and has harassed
the two roti canai.
That cat came charging at Chris. Upon seeing the danger, Bazlin distracted the cat and
allowed the cat to chase her instead. Together, the two were seen running like mad,
zooming here and there to try to avoid the cat from being bitten. They were running at top
speed from left to right, right to left, top of the table any under it. It was really a funny
scene. You should have been there to see it.
Then a thought came into Chriss mind. Bazlin get that rattan basket shouted Chris.
Place the basket with the opening facing me. Have it at the edge of the table. Let the cat
chase me. Ill run fast towards the basket then whiz off just in time to fool the cat into the
basket. When the cat hits the basket, the weight will make it fall onto the floor. Use that
wok and trap that naughty cat inside the basket. Hold tight and dont let go instructed
Chris.
True to the plan, Chris managed to fool the cat inside the basket. Bazlin used the wok to
cover the basket that prevented the cat from jumping off. Chris quickly helped by putting
some more heavy things on the wok. This time the cat is trapped inside the rattan basket
and could not come out for sure.
Pheew Sighted Chris and Bazlin amidst panting heavily from exhaustion. Im going
to kill that stupid cat said Chris angrily. And Im going to cook him! added Bazlin.
The night went on and by dawn, Chris and Bazlin have made about 30 pieces of roti
canai. They could have made more if not for that cat chasing them around. Chris and
Bazlin had to go hiding so that they would not be seen by Rameshs family.
Did you do that honey? asked Seetha to her husband. Do what? answered Ramesh
with his eye half asleep. That roti canai on the table? exclaimed Seetha in disbelief.
Wow! How did that happened? said Ramesh with a puzzle look on his face. There is no
answer to it but some how Ramesh and Seetha went on to do their work for the day.
Then one customer, Mohan came in for breakfast and ordered a piece of roti canai.
Ramesh served him the rotai canai. A few minutes later Mohan asked for another piece.
Then afew more minutes, another piece. The customer was so satisfied with this breakfast
and paid double the usual price.
He even told Ramesh that he have never tasted such tasty roti canai in his life.
As Mohan was walking towards the bus station, he met his friends Paul and Robest.
Mohan told them to try the roti at Rameshs shop. So they did. Paul and Robest came to

have the roti canai. And the same thing happened. Paul and Robest ate and ate and ate till
their belly filled.
Within the next few hours all 30 pieces of roti was sold out. Ramesh and his wife made
more. The business on that day was good. The atmosphere in the family became better
than the day before. Pavitra, Jeevan and Laxman came home from school and were
delighted to serve the customers too.
That night, as the family retires to sleep. Chris and Bazlin would sneak out again to make
more roti canai. But they got smarter this round. Lets trap the cat first before we work
said Chris to Bazlin. Yes! Lets do that1 agreed Bazlin.As happened the night before,
the two pieces of roti canai ran up abnd down. Zoming across the entire kitchen and the
entire shop. The chasing and running went on for fifteen minutes when finally the two
roti canai won. They caught the cat in the basket.
YEAH they shouted
Now lets get to work! said Chris with a big grin on its face. This time Chris and Bazlin
made three hundreds of roti canai. Again, the next morning, Ramesh and Seetha rubbed
their eyes in disbelief. Who did that? Ramesh and Seetha asked each other. Again they
can only shake their head without having any clue.
Mohan, Paul and Robest came in to have their breakfast again. This time they brought
along more friends. They were Rahim, Sulaiman, Colin, Azim, Jimmy, Nam Aik, Arif,
Lily, Zila and Ashran. The roti canai tasted so good that these people ate more than usual.
These roti taste so good it can be eaten on its own Mohan complimented Ramesh with
his usual broad smile and gleaming teeth. Tell me Ramesh, what are your secrets? What
kind of flour did you used probed Mohan and his friends. But Ramesh could only grin
because even he did not know the answer.
Seetha and the 3 children were all very busy serving roti canai to more customers. As the
words got around the bus station, more customers came in to try out those delicious roti
canai. It didnt take long before all three hundred pieces of roti were sold out. Though the
family members were exhausted by night fall, but they were a happy lot. They dont mind
working because business was good.
Honey, maybe we should find out who made those roti said Seetha to Ramesh just
before they close for the day. Yes. Im curious too. Lets find out! replied Ramesh
eagerly.
And as usual, the funny cat chasing scene repeated by itself again. Ramesh and Seetha
could see every thing from behind the door. It was a shocking sight for Ramesh and his
wife. How unbelievable the roti canai talk? How it was possible that a roti canai could
run? How can the roti canai beat the cat? asked Ramesh to Seetha. Both husband and
wife were stunned and at the same time amused.

After watching the cat got caught into the rattan basket, Ramesh and Seetha decided to
come out to thank the two roti canai. WOOOA!!! Chris and Bazlin shouted with fear.
They are not supposed to be seen by human. Quickly the two roti canai flashed away into
hiding.
Come out roti. We just want to thank you said Ramesh. Please show yourself roti, we
want to tell you our business has become good because of your work pleaded Seetha.
Please come out Ramesh and his wife begs the two roti canai.
Slowly, Chris and Bazlin showed themselves. It was a scary moment for the two roti
canai. Chris and Bazlin werent sure if they could trust Ramesh and his wife. But the
pleasant look on Ramesh and Seetha has won their confidence. Soon the trust built up and
you could see the two roti canai telling Ramesh and Seetha how they were created by the
Deva. They were also told of their purpose here.
And at this juncture, Chris and Bazlin took the opportunity to complain about the nasty
cat that has been making their live difficult. The two roti also seized the opportunity to
make a deal with Ramesh.
Chris went to say, if you could do a few things to help us. We will do a few more things
in return to help you in your business. What is it asked Ramesh eagerly.
First, you have to put that nasty cat in a cage. We are tired of him chasing us around.
Then clean up the entire shop. You can start off with the toilet. It stinks so bad we feel
like vomiting. We also want you to clean the entire kitchen. Its so dirty. There are rats
and all kind of dirty insects. And clean the ceiling fans too. Its coated with a thick layer
of black dust said the two roti canai.
Ramesh and Seetha were so embarrassed with what the two roti canai have just said, they
have forgotten to ask what the two roti canai will do for them in return.
Quickly, the entire family went into full speed and cleaned the whole shop. After hours
and hours of cleaning by Ramesh and his family members, the whole shop looked so
different. The toilet now smells so nice. It is so clean you can sleep in it. The kitchen look
so neat and tidy it looked like a garden. And the shop looked like a 5 star restaurant. It is
sparkling clean.
You have done well complimented the two roti to Ramesh. Now in return, we are going
to do you a big favour. Said Bazlin to Ramesh.
Really! exclaimed Ramesh excitedly with his mustache now pointing upwards to the
sky.

Yes, we are going too bring our cousins here. They are a rock band and we shall ask
them to perform for your customer the two roti canai explained.
Soon, Roti Pisang, Roti Tissue, Roti Bom, Roti Sardin, Roti Telur, Roti Bawang and Roti
Planta came to Rameshs shop and performed to the pleasure of his customers. By now,
Ramesh shop is the most popular eatery in Tanjong Malim.
Soon, a rich businessman, Dato Ghazi offered Ramesh a business proposal. That is to
have more shops. And within the next few weeks, there were 10 more Ramesh Roti Canai
shops in other part of the state.
Mohan and his usual friends became the best of friends. Soon they form a club to help the
poor. You can often see them at Rameshs shop. These kind hearted people would discuss
creative plans for the roti canai rock group to perform in other town so that they can raise
funds for the needy.
Ramesh and his family no longer suffer from poverty. They can afford to buy basic things
that they need. Pavitra gets a new computer to do her school work. Jeevan get a new
bicycle to ride to school and Laxman gets a new school bag.
By now Ramesh and his family lived a comfortable life. And when the Hindu festival of
Deepavali arrives, the children were given beautiful cloths to wear.
It is a happy scene in Tanjong Malim. Ramesh and Seetha are often seen buzy in their
shops. Customers would flock in non stop for the tasty roti canai and watch the amazing
roti canai rock group perform.
They have made enough money by now Ramesh and his family would fly Air Asia for
holiday to Hong Kong Disneyland. The children school result has improved. They also
excel in sports. Later Jeevan was selected to become a Perak state cricket player
There is nothing more Ramesh could ask for and so the family lived happily ever after.
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The End

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: Uncle Bugs
: The Roti Canai Story
: Fiction story for kids
: All rights reserved Uncle Bugs 2016