Khaula loved gardening and everything about plants, flowers and every kind of greenery. She would always look forward to visiting granny’s place in winter holidays because granny had her very own kitchen garden.

Khaula enjoyed seeing granny picking different vegetables from her garden. She would pick fresh carrots, peas, radishes, potatoes and salad leaves to cook delicious meals and soups, especially vegetable rice. Unlike other children of her age, Khaula liked eating vegetables more than she liked chicken or fish. Now, it had been almost eight months since she had visited her granny.

Khaula was a kind-hearted girl, eldest among her three siblings; she was in fourth grade. One day, she was busy with her homework when mama called her and asked for some help in preparing dinner. She joined her mum in the kitchen where her mother asked her to bring carrots from the refrigerator.

When Khaula opened the vegetable box, she was surprised to see tiny fresh green leaves sprouting from their broader ends. Some tender white root hairs could also be seen on the red surface. “Mum, mum, see, they are growing! Soon these carrots will multiply to produce more carrots. Please, please, don’t cut them. We should leave them just as they are,” she shouted excitedly.

Her mother smiled at her excitement and said, “They won’t multiply into more carrots, but if we provide them proper environment, they will grow into beautiful plants you will love to look at. And you don’t need the whole carrot for this, instead one inch thick pieces from the broader ends will do. Sow them in the pot downstairs.”

Khaula did as she was told and started waiting anxiously for the leaves to sprout.

Every day after returning from school Khaula would water her pot and notice the growth. A week went by, then another, but there was no sign of any plant in the pot. The third week was about to finish when she finally noticed fresh green leaves coming out of the soil. They seemed to smile at her, but Khaula didn’t smile back. She was a bit worried about the strange look and somewhat distorted shape of the plants.

She rushed to her mum who had almost forgotten about Khaula’s carrot plants.

“How long has it been since you planted them, Khaula?” she questioned after listening to Khaula’s concern.

“Almost three weeks, mum,” Khaula replied.

“It shouldn’t have taken so long,” her mother said thoughtfully while examining the plants. “By the way, which side did you keep upwards while sowing them?” she continued.

“The flat one, I mean their freshly-cut side.” Khaula was now somewhat perplexed.

“Oh no, dear! You did it the wrong way. This is why they look like this. The leaves definitely had to travel a longer length to come out of the soil. Same did the roots to reach deep down in the soil,” mum explained.

“But mum, aren’t carrots supposed to grow upwards?” Khaula was still confused.

“No sweety, carrot is a root and you must have learned from your science lesson that roots always grow downwards, away from the sun, into the soil.”

“Oh, I see. Now, I remember, granny used to uproot a carrot from the soil by applying upward force with a tight grip on its leaves. I really did it the wrong way,” she smiled broadly and admitted her mistake.

“But in the process, you learnt practically that no matter how we plant, leaves, or more precisely the shoots, always grow upwards while roots always go downwards. It also shows that nature can never be changed. Good-natured people will always spread positive energy and goodness, no matter which circumstances they are in. And I’m happy, Khaula, my little girl, you are also one of them,” Mum hugged her tight and kissed her.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 25th, 2017