How to Prepare Chapati

In the middle of Nani’s kitchen, there was a warm melody. It wasn’t the radio, but the sound made by a rolling pin which is gently pressed against an amount of flour. Today she was baking soft flat breads called chapatis that were always served as heart of meals. Raya, granddaughter to Nani, sat on a stool looking on, impressed.

“Please tell me again about how you make chapati,” pleaded Raya wide-eyed.

Nani laughed softly like fields of wheat in the wind that feels like a gentle stream. "Oh! Chapati! A story as old as time, well almost; flour, like golden sand, touched by water which is actually a cool stream, changes into a doughy mountain.”

With familiarity , Nani mixed up dough using her hands till it became elastic and rather like playful puppy. “Raya, see? We have to do it gently.”

Raya laughed out so loud thus only Nani dipped her fingers in oil from her bowl that had for soft and flaky layers one secret ingredient. “Now this is the magic potion,” she winked while pressing oil on its surface folding it and patting it down saying things just to the chapati dough.

"Nani does it speak back?” Raya asked with joyous eyes.

Nani smiled. “No not quite but it listens .We will shape them into little moons” she said and cut out small balls from the dough each ball was rolled into thin circles with guidance from Nani who did so trembling hands under Raya’s hands as they were too small for hers.

The cast iron pan on the stove sizzled, a hungry dragon waiting for its meal. Nani carefully placed a chapati on its hot surface. Bubbles began to appear on the dough's surface, like whispers of excitement.  With a gentle touch of a cloth, Nani flipped the chapati, golden brown spots blooming on its skin.

"Look, Raya! It puffs up like a proud peacock," Nani exclaimed, gently pressing the chapati with a spatula to create layers. The finished chapati landed on a warm plate, a testament to their teamwork. 

The kitchen filled with the warm, yeasty scent of success.  Nani and Raya shared a plate each bite a delicious reward for their storytelling and chapati-marking adventure. As the last bite disappeared, Raya knew the story of the chapati wasn't just about flour and water, but about love, patience, and a little bit of magic.