Aarau Learns a Lesson

It was Sunday, and Aarav woke up leisurely in the morning. 

- Dr. K. Rani

Meera had prepared his favourite breakfast. When Meera called out, he washed his face and went to the dining table.

As he reached out to pick up a sandwich, Manas noticed his long nails and said, "Aarav, your nails are long and dirty. Take care of the cleanliness of your hands. You should cut your nails every week. Otherwise, they will grow long, and dirt will collect inside them."

While eating, Aarav looked at his hands and realized that his nails were indeed dirty.

Meera handed the nail cutter to Aarav and said, "Aarav, cut your nails. They are full of dirt."

Aarav took the nail cutter from her hand, kept it in his pocket, and continued eating.

"I didn't give you the nail cutter to keep in your pocket. Cut your nails first, and then you can go play," Meera said.

"I'll do it later, Mom! Why do you keep nagging me?" Aarav replied, placing the nail cutter on the table and going off to play.

Aarav's mom asked him to cut his nails every Sunday, but he considered it to be the worst chore.

Sometimes, during the school prayer meeting, teachers checked the students' nails and hair. On Tuesday, the class monitor, Piyush, was inspecting everyone's nails and hair, allowing only those with neatly combed hair and trimmed nails to enter the class. Standing in line with the other children, Aarav glanced at his nails. They had grown long, and dirt had accumulated inside them. He clenched his fist.

"Show me your nails, Aarav," Piyush said.

Slowly, Aarav opened his fist and turned his hand to show his nails.

"Your nails are very dirty. Why didn't you cut them?" Piyush asked.

"I forgot to cut them today," Aarav replied.