ALI was once again disappointed by his examinations result. He couldn’t understand why he always came second and Zaid always came first. He knew that he spent more time studying than Zaid because, unlike Zaid, he didn’t participate in those extracurricular activities which required time and attention. He usually saw Zaid playing or enjoying other activities with his friends and so he couldn’t understand how by focusing on so many things Zaid still topped in the class.

As he was walking past the ground thinking about studying harder for the upcoming exams, Zaid who was playing football with some friends, called out to him, “Hey, Ali, want to come and play football with us?”

Ali, as usual, said, “No, I have to study.”

Zaid was surprised because the exam syllabus had not been announced so there was no urgency to start serious preparations yet. But Zaid kept his thoughts to himself as Ali walked away.

After the examination when the result was announced, disappointment awaited Ali as he again got the second position. Ali felt angry with himself, Zaid and everyone around him. Filled with anger, he marched home where, instead of greeting his mother, he started, “How can I always come second? I spend every spare second I have to study while Zaid plays and does everything that is a waste of time?”

His mother, surprised by the sudden outburst, understood the situation by seeing the report card in Ali’s hand. She calmly pacified him, “Ali have you ever heard that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy?”

“Yes, I have but what’s the connection of this idiom with my question?”

“Your problem is that you don’t divert your attention to other things which might give you a break. Studying all the time tires the mind, it needs a break to get refreshed and recharged.”

Ali was surprised by the answer and asked her what she meant by this.

“Ali, the real problem with you is that you spend all your time studying, you pressurise your brain to take in so much information without a break that you become exhausted and are unable to perform well on the examination day and because of it you don’t get the highest marks. You know what is the real reason behind Zaid coming first?”

“What is it?” he asked impatiently.

“The real reason is that he does not spend all his leisure time studying, making notes, memorising passages like you do. Instead, he gives his mind a break by playing and doing other activities. So he stays fresh and active. You think that playing is a waste of time but actually, playing is equally important as it gives you a break from the burden of studies; it opens your mind and relaxes it. You can set a time to take a break from studies on regular days as well as during examinations. You know relaxing the mind is very important for memorising things as well as for your health. Tell me the last time when you played some outdoor game?”

“Umm! It was… umm... I can’t remember as I had the exams during the last two weeks so I was busy with it.”

“You see you are not providing yourself with physical fitness or mental peace, you are turning yourself into a machine hidden behind stacks of books which just knows how to study and nothing else,” Ali’s mother explained to him.

“Well you are right! I didn’t give myself break.”

“So now you understand the real reason of coming second? “

“Yes, I now understand that I need to lead a balanced life by both studying and playing,” said Ali in relaxed tone.