This story is about two brothers - Arjun and Kumar. They were smart and curious boys. After their school closed for summer holidays, they went to their grandfather's village to spend the break. Their grandfather was a skilled potter. He made and sold beautiful pots of all shapes and sizes.

That summer, Arjun and Kumar decided, "We must learn how to make pots from Grandpa before we return home."

They told him clearly, "Before the holidays end, we want to learn your craft, Grandpa."

Grandpa smiled and said, "Of course, my dear children, I'll teach you!"

Since it was their vacation, the boys weren't used to waking up early. For the first few days, they woke up late - 9:00 am, 10:00 am... Grandpa let it slide. He was already at work by the time they came out.

Seeing this, Arjun and Kumar felt bad.

"Why didn't you wake us up, Grandpa? We would have helped you!"

Grandpa chuckled and replied, "Children, pottery is best done early in the morning. I've been doing this for years, and I follow a routine. If you want to learn, you must try waking up a bit earlier."

Arjun and Kumar nodded.

"Okay, Grandpa! Please wake us up at 6:00 AM from tomorrow," they said.

"Alright," said Grandpa. "But if you don't get up, don't blame me!"

The next morning, Grandpa woke them up. Arjun got up quickly and joined him, but Kumar grumbled, "Let me sleep a little longer," and went back to bed.

Arjun patiently began learning the craft with Grandpa. Days passed. Arjun was learning more and more, while Kumar lagged behind. Eventually, seeing how much Arjun had learned, Kumar too became eager to catch up. He started waking up on time and joined Grandpa.

One day, Grandpa asked, "Arjun, Kumar, go fetch some sand from the riverbank."

Kumar was confused. "But Grandpa, there's so much sand here already. Why go so far?"

Grandpa smiled, "To make a proper pot, you must learn everything from the basics. I won't just hand you the materials and tell you what to do. You must know what is needed and why. Go get the river sand."

So, Arjun and Kumar set off on their first task. But it wasn't just about bringing sand or water - it took a couple of days just to learn and practice how to find the right kind of river sand and clean water. Grandpa guided them patiently, showing what to pick, what to avoid, and why it mattered.

Once they got the hang of it, they began mixing the sand and water into clay. They stomped it with their feet, kneaded it with their hands, and slowly understood how the texture changed. Day by day, they repeated the process, getting better with each try.

It wasn't something they could master in one go - every part of pottery took time to learn. But as they kept going, the clay began to feel familiar in their hands, and the rhythm of the work slowly settled into their hearts.

Kumar slowly began to lose interest. He had imagined sitting at the potter's wheel, shaping pots directly. He didn't realize all the preparation involved. He grew impatient.

But not Arjun. He enjoyed every step. Finally, Grandpa taught Arjun how to shape the clay on the wheel.

"You have to be gentle," said Grandpa. "Place your hands softly like flower petals."

But Kumar pressed too hard, and the pots collapsed. After trying a few times, he gave up.

"Grandpa, I don't think pottery is for me," he said and walked away.

Arjun never gave up. Even if the pot broke, he tried again and again. Slowly, he started making beautiful pots. Grandpa taught him how to make small lamps, bowls, and more.

He also explained how to dry the pots, fire them in the kiln, and why certain pots crack when not fired properly.

"See these little holes in the pots?" Grandpa said. "They help prevent breakage. Even the tiniest detail matters."

Arjun had an idea - "If I paint these pots in bright colors, more people might want to buy them!" He asked his father to buy paints. Soon, his colorful designs made the pots more attractive, and they sold quickly in the village market.

Grandpa was very proud of Arjun.

"My grandson is truly helping me and learning well," he thought with joy.

Kumar felt happy for Arjun, but he knew he hadn't learned much himself.

"Don't worry, Kumar," Grandpa said gently. "You too can learn, if only you have the patience. Success comes from interest and steady effort."

At the end of the holidays, both boys returned home. At school, Arjun presented a video about his pottery experience. His teacher and classmates were amazed and appreciated his work. Kumar said, "I tried, but I couldn't do it?"

But deep down, a fire was lit in Kumar.

"Next year, I will definitely try again and learn it properly!" he promised himself.

The next summer, Kumar returned with a determined heart. No matter the failure, he never gave up this time. Eventually, he and Arjun started making pots and painting them together. Their creations became a big hit in the local market.

Moral of the Story:

If you truly want to learn something, never give up.

We can't expect to master anything instantly - life is not like a mobile app where one click gives you results.

It takes time, effort, and patience. Just like Arjun, if you keep trying, you'll not only learn a skill but also become an expert in it.

So kids, this summer, try learning something new! It could be drawing, gardening, or making pots - anything you like. But learn it with interest, curiosity, and consistent effort. Even Kumar, who gave up at first, succeeded in the end.

Remember: "Perseverance always wins."