The Things That Take Time

1. Episode 1: “Why Can’t It Happen Now?”
2. Moral Value: Patience
3. Imaan was already awake.
4. She looked at the clock.
5. “Oh no!
6. Only twenty minutes left!”
7. Imaan exclaimed.
8. Akhlaaq's bedroom door was still closed.
9. Imaan knocked once.
10. “Akhlaaq!
11. Wake up!”
12. Imaan called.
13. No response.
14. She knocked again.
15. “Akhlaaq!”
16. Imaan called.
17. From inside came a sleepy voice.
18. “Five more minutes,” Akhlaaq said.
19. Imaan opened the door slightly.
20. Akhlaaq was still under his blanket.
21. “You said that ten minutes ago!”
22. Imaan exclaimed.
23. “Then I only need five more,” Akhlaaq said.
24. Imaan stared at him.
25. “That doesn't make any sense!”
26. Imaan exclaimed.
27. Akhlaaq smiled sleepily.
28. Imaan shook her head and walked towards the kitchen.
29. In the kitchen, Ammi was preparing breakfast.
30. “Ammi, I'm going to be late!”
31. Imaan exclaimed.
32. “Breakfast is almost ready.
33. Sit down,” Ammi said.
34. “Almost?
35. How long is almost?”
36. Imaan asked.
37. Ammi smiled.
38. “Just a few minutes,” Ammi said.
39. Imaan sighed and sat down.
40. She looked at the clock again.
41. Then again.
42. And again.
43. “Why does everything take so long?”
44. Imaan asked.
45. Ammi looked at her quietly.
46. She did not answer.
47. “Where's my other shoe?”
48. Akhlaaq asked.
49. Ammi pointed towards the sofa.
50. His other shoe was sitting there.
51. “Oh,” Akhlaaq said.
52. Imaan laughed.
53. “Maybe your shoe also needed five more minutes,” Imaan said.
54. Akhlaaq frowned.
55. “Very funny,” Akhlaaq said.
56. They hurried out of the house.
57. Neither of them noticed the small smile on Ammi's face.
58. “Assalam o Alaikum, everyone,” she greeted the class.
59. “Wa Alaikum Assalam, Miss,” the students replied together.
60. Everyone became curious about the box in her hands.
61. “What is that, Miss?” a student asked.
62. Ms Sana placed the box on her desk.
63. “Before I tell you, I have an announcement,” Ms Sana said.
64. The classroom became quiet.
65. The students became excited.
66. “Next month?”
67. Akhlaaq asked.
68. He whispered to Imaan.
69. “That's too far away,” Akhlaaq said.
70. Imaan looked at the notice.
71. “We have plenty of time,” Imaan said.
72. Ms Sana continued.
73. The best project will represent our class,” Ms Sana said.
74. Akhlaaq immediately raised his hand.
75. “Miss, can we make something today?”
76. Akhlaaq asked.
77. The class laughed.
78. Ms Sana smiled.
79. “You certainly can start today,” Ms Sana said.
80. Akhlaaq looked pleased.
81. “Great!
82. And when will it be finished?”
83. Akhlaaq asked.
84. Akhlaaq's smile disappeared slightly.
85. “Can't we just finish it tomorrow?”
86. Akhlaaq asked.
87. “Good work takes time, Akhlaaq,” Ms Sana said.
88. Imaan looked at the box on the desk.
89. For some reason, those words stayed in her mind.
90. Good work takes time.
91. During lunch break, Imaan and Akhlaaq sat together.
92. “We need a really good project,” Imaan said.
93. “Easy.
94. We'll make the best one,” Akhlaaq said.
95. “What will we make?”
96. Imaan asked.
97. Akhlaaq thought for a moment.
98. “A robot,” Akhlaaq said.
99. Imaan stared at him.
100. “A robot?”
101. Imaan asked.
102. “Yes,” Akhlaaq said.
103. “With what?”
104. Imaan asked.
105. Akhlaaq looked around.
106. “Those,” Akhlaaq said.
107. Imaan laughed.
108. “You think you can build a robot with cardboard?”
109. Imaan asked.
110. “Of course,” Akhlaaq said.
111. “And make it move?”
112. Imaan asked.
113. “Obviously,” Akhlaaq said.
114. “And speak?”
115. Imaan asked.
116. Akhlaaq paused.
117. “We'll teach it,” Akhlaaq said.
118. Imaan laughed again.
119. But the idea excited her too.
120. They decided to start that afternoon.
121. After school, they gathered materials at home.
122. Akhlaaq placed a cardboard box on the table.
123. Imaan carefully cut two pieces of cardboard.
124. “The arms have to be exactly the same,” Imaan said.
125. “Why?”
126. Akhlaaq asked.
127. “Because we're making a robot,” Imaan said.
128. “Robots don't complain about their arms,” Akhlaaq said.
129. They continued.
130. Akhlaaq attached the head.
131. It fell off.
132. He attached it again.
133. It fell off.
134. Again.
135. It fell off.
136. Imaan sighed.
137. “This isn't working,” Imaan said.
138. “We'll fix it,” Akhlaaq said.
139. He tried again.
140. The head fell directly onto his foot.
141. “Ow!”
142. Akhlaaq exclaimed.
143. Imaan burst out laughing.
144. Akhlaaq picked up the cardboard.
145. “I'm done,” Akhlaaq said.
146. “What?”
147. Imaan asked.
148. “This is taking too long,” Akhlaaq said.
149. He pushed the materials aside.
150. Imaan looked at the unfinished robot.
151. “But we just started,” Imaan said.
152. “Exactly.
153. And look how much time we've already wasted,” Akhlaaq said.
154. Imaan stared at him.
155. She wanted to agree.
156. But something stopped her.
157. The next morning, Ammi was watering the plants.
158. Imaan stood beside her.
159. “Ammi?”
160. Imaan asked.
161. “Yes?”
162. Ammi asked.
163. “Why do plants take so long to grow?”
164. Imaan asked.
165. Ammi smiled.
166. “Because they are growing,” Ammi said.
167. “Can't they grow faster?”
168. Imaan asked.
169. “Not everything can be rushed,” Ammi said.
170. She pointed towards a small plant.
171. “Do you remember when we planted this?”
172. Ammi asked.
173. Imaan nodded.

The words follow the narration. Tap any line to jump there. The rest of the story continues in the app.