Imran's Favorite Food
Imran was a happy little boy who loved to eat. His most favorite food in the whole wide world was rihaakuru, a special fish sauce from his home.
"Mmm, rihaakuru time!" Imran said with a big smile. He sat at the table as Mom put a plate in front of him.
"Not too much, Imran," said Mom. "It's very salty today."
But Imran didn't listen. He poured lots and lots of rihaakuru on his rice. It was so salty that his cheeks puckered up! But he still ate it all.
"My tummy is full," said Imran, patting his round belly. "I love rihaakuru, even when it's super salty!"
That night, Imran brushed his teeth and climbed into bed. His tummy felt funny from all the salty rihaakuru, but he closed his eyes anyway.
"Good night, Imran," whispered Mom.
"Good night," Imran yawned. Soon he was fast asleep.
The Strange Dream Begins
Imran was sleeping when something strange happened. His dreams began to swirl like water in a bathtub.
"Hello?" Imran called in his dream. His voice sounded funny, like he was talking underwater.
The dream room was just like his bedroom, but everything looked a bit scary. The shadows were longer. The colors were darker. And there was a funny smell, like fish left too long in the sun.
Imran hugged his teddy bear tight. "I don't like this dream," he whispered.
Then he heard a sound. Tap, tap, tap. Like something was walking across the floor.
Tap, tap, tap. It was getting closer.
Imran pulled his blanket up to his chin. His tummy still felt funny from all that salty rihaakuru.
"Who's there?" Imran asked in a tiny voice.
The Rihaakuru Handi Appears
From the shadows came the strangest thing Imran had ever seen. It was a rihaakuru handi – the special pot that holds rihaakuru sauce. But this handi had tiny legs and glowing yellow eyes!
"Hello, Imran," said the handi in a bubbly voice. "I am the Rihaakuru Handi."
Imran blinked. "Pots can't talk," he said.
"In dreams they can," replied the handi. "Especially when little boys eat too much salty rihaakuru before bedtime."
The handi waddled closer. It had drops of dark sauce dripping from its rim, like a drippy mouth.
"Why are you in my dream?" asked Imran.
"Because you love rihaakuru so much," said the handi. "Even when it's too salty. I've come to show you something."
Imran wasn't sure if he should be scared. The handi looked silly with its little legs, but its glowing eyes made Imran's heart beat fast.
"Come with me," said the Rihaakuru Handi.
The Salty Sea
Imran followed the Rihaakuru Handi through a door that wasn't there before. On the other side was the strangest place!
It was a sea made of rihaakuru sauce! Brown waves splashed against shores made of white rice. The air smelled very fishy.
"Welcome to the Salty Sea," said the handi. "This is where all the extra rihaakuru goes when little children eat too much."
Imran saw white sparkles on top of the sauce waves. "What are those?" he asked.
"Salt," said the handi. "Too much salt. Just like you ate today."
Imran's tongue felt dry just looking at it. "It's so much rihaakuru!"
"Yes," nodded the handi. "And when you eat too much salty food, your body feels like this sea – all out of balance."
A small wave splashed near Imran's feet. He jumped back.
"Don't worry," said the handi. "I'm not here to scare you. I'm here to help you learn."
Imran looked at the endless sea of sauce. "Learn what?"
The Thirsty Fish
Suddenly, fish began jumping out of the sauce sea! They had big eyes and open mouths.
"Water! We need water!" the fish cried.
"Why are they so thirsty?" asked Imran.
"Because there's too much salt here," explained the Rihaakuru Handi. "Just like when you eat food that's too salty, your body gets thirsty."
A big fish with a crown-like fin jumped up near them. "Little boy," it bubbled, "when you eat too much salty rihaakuru, you feel just like us – very, very thirsty!"
Imran remembered how he had to drink three cups of water after dinner. His tummy had felt so full and uncomfortable.
"I don't want the fish to be thirsty," said Imran. "And I don't want to feel thirsty either."
The Rihaakuru Handi nodded. "That's why it's good to eat rihaakuru in small amounts. A little bit tastes yummy. Too much makes you feel yucky."
Imran thought about this. "I think I understand now."
Morning Wisdom
"Imran! Time to wake up!" called Mom.
Imran opened his eyes. He was back in his real bedroom. The sun was shining through his window. There was no Rihaakuru Handi, no sauce sea, and no thirsty fish.
"What a strange dream," Imran said, rubbing his eyes.
At breakfast, Mom put a small dish of rihaakuru on the table.
"Would you like some with your rice?" she asked.
Imran nodded. But this time, he only took a tiny spoonful.
"That's new," said Mom with surprise. "You usually want lots and lots."
Imran smiled. "I learned something in my dream. A little bit of rihaakuru is yummy. Too much makes you feel yucky and thirsty like the fish."
Mom didn't understand about the dream fish, but she was happy Imran was eating better.
"And can I have a big glass of water please?" asked Imran.
That night, when Imran went to bed, his tummy felt just right. He wasn't too full or too thirsty. And there were no scary handis in his dreams – only happy fish swimming in a clear blue sea.
The End