Chapter 14: The Raya Cookie War – The Battle at JB Bazaar!

The last night of Ramadan in Johor Bahru was more festive than usual. The Ramadan Bazaar in the city center was packed with a sea of people, all rushing to buy food for iftar and Raya cookies in preparation for Eid. Neon lights flickered, illuminating the bazaar, while classic Raya songs like Satu Hari di Hari Raya played through the loudspeakers.

But for Aiman and his gang—Badrul, Johan, Din, and now Faizal, who had officially joined their ‘detective squad’—tonight was more than just about getting ready for Raya. This was their biggest operation yet: taking down the infamous Raya cookie thieves who had been terrorizing Kampung Melayu and its surrounding areas.

Preparing for Battle

For the past few days, they had been gathering evidence. Din’s digital camera—borrowed from his photography-enthusiast brother—held pictures of their prime suspect: a thick-mustached man known as Wak Nuar, the alleged mastermind behind the stolen Raya cookies all over JB.

They also received crucial intel from Faizal, who finally proved himself as more than just a nosy tagalong. “I overheard him making deals with several vendors at this bazaar. The stolen cookies? He’s been reselling them here at cheap prices. Easy money, smooth business!”

Johan patted Faizal on the back. “Alright, bro, you really came through this time. I take back all the insults I threw at you.”

Faizal grinned. “No worries. The important thing is, we have to solve this case before Raya.”

They had reported everything to the police, but as expected, their claims weren’t taken seriously at first. However, after presenting the photos and additional evidence to an officer named Inspector Razman, the police finally agreed to carry out an operation that night.

“There’s just one problem,” Inspector Razman had told them earlier outside the police station. “We can’t just raid any place without solid proof. You guys need to find a way to trap Wak Nuar.”

The Trap at the Bazaar

Now, they were at the bazaar, ready for their mission. Johan and Din pretended to be regular customers, wandering between stalls while eavesdropping on vendors. Aiman and Faizal hovered near Wak Nuar’s stall. Badrul, the biggest among them, took position near a strategically placed roti john stall, watching everything unfold.

The clock neared 10 PM, and the bazaar grew even more crowded. Last-minute customers hunted for food before Maghrib earlier, and now, many were purchasing Raya cookies in bulk.

Suddenly, Aiman noticed a suspicious man talking to Wak Nuar. He tried to sharpen his hearing, but the loud chatter of the bazaar made it difficult. However, something caught his eye—the cookie packaging at Wak Nuar’s stall looked too uniform, as if they had been repacked elsewhere instead of being homemade.

“Bro, this is it,” Johan whispered, suddenly appearing beside him. “I saw him hand over cash to a vendor earlier. This is definitely his operation!”

Aiman immediately signaled Faizal, who quickly called Inspector Razman. “The boss is making a deal right now. Get here fast!”

Minutes later, a team of undercover officers quietly entered the bazaar, blending in as regular customers to avoid drawing attention.

The Bazaar Battle

Wak Nuar looked uneasy. He glanced around as if sensing that something was off. Maybe he had smelled the trap.

And then—chaos erupted.

One of Wak Nuar’s workers suddenly shouted, “POLICE!”

Wak Nuar bolted, shoving aside the crowd in his way. Aiman and his friends weren’t about to let him escape. They immediately sprinted after him, dodging people who were busy picking out cookies and Raya clothes.

“Chase him! Don’t let him get away!” Inspector Razman shouted at his officers.

Aiman nearly slipped as he jumped over a pile of spilled semperit cookies from a toppled stall. Johan and Badrul ran as fast as they could, trying to corner Wak Nuar. Din, the fastest runner in their group, managed to grab the man’s shirt, but Wak Nuar yanked his arm free and kept running.

The tension escalated as Wak Nuar dashed toward a darker area of the bazaar. But Faizal, who had anticipated this move, was already waiting at the end of the alleyway—holding a thin raffia rope.

“Not so fast, Wak!”

With a swift motion, Faizal pulled the rope taut, causing Wak Nuar to trip and fall flat on his back. The police immediately pounced on him, handcuffing him before he could make another move.

The crowd erupted in applause, even though most of them had no idea what had just happened. They were simply excited by the unexpected drama unfolding before their eyes.

A Sweet Victory Before Raya

“Good work, boys,” Inspector Razman said, patting Aiman on the shoulder. “This is a big case. Turns out, he wasn’t just stealing cookies—he was also scamming money from multiple vendors.”

Aiman and his gang grinned in satisfaction. They had finally cracked the case of the disappearing Raya cookies that had haunted JB throughout Ramadan.

Faizal, now an official member of the group, said, “Now we can finally focus on celebrating Raya.”

Johan laughed. “Yeah, but don’t forget—we have to wake up early for Raya prayers tomorrow. No oversleeping!”

They all burst into laughter, relishing their victory—not just for catching a criminal but also for proving that their friendship and courage could make a real difference.

The night deepened, and in the distance, the call of takbir echoed through the air, signaling that Eid was just around the corner.