……… They found some torn pages, crinkled and dusty.
Aarav asked, “What is it? Is it a manuscript?”
“Yes, it is,” Meera replied.
They took it to their Sanskrit professor and asked if he could read it. The professor was amazed to see such an antique. The manuscript guided them to a temple near the university pond. They followed its directions and came across another chest, which contained another piece of paper.
The children took it to the professor again. The same thing kept happening: each paper led them to another temple. Eventually, they had visited almost every temple in the city.
Finally, they arrived at a temple that also had a manuscript. Feeling hopeless, Aarav said, “How many times do we need to wander in search of our goal?”
“Maybe this is the last time,” Meera replied.
They saw a sign that directed them to the Principal’s Office. Both were overjoyed and rushed to their destination.
The Principal said to them, “Do you remember the first page you found? It had my signature, but neither of you noticed—and yet you worked so hard and for so long.”
Both of them looked at the paper and regretted how much time they had wasted.
Moral: Work smarter, not harder.
SHOUVIK CHOWDHURY IX/A
