Dark clouds hung over Karachi as Ammar hurried through the crowded school hallway. Rainwater was dripping from everyone’s umbrellas, forming tiny puddles on the ground. Everyone buzzed with excitement because the school’s annual art competition was only one day away.

Ammar hugged his canvas bag tightly. Hidden inside it was a painting that Ammar had spent weeks creating. Every night while his whole house was sleeping, Ammar would sit next to his bedroom window, letting his imagination pour out in the form of art. Ammar was an incredible artist.

“You’re definitely submitting your painting tomorrow, right?” his best friend Ali asked while he walked beside him.

Ammar hesitated. “I don’t know,” he muttered softly. “What if it isn’t good enough?”

Ali rolled his eyes. “You always say that. This is your opportunity to show your talent. Do not lose it. Opportunities do not wait forever, you know.”

Ali’s words stayed in Ammar’s mind for the rest of the day like an echo that he could not silence.

The next morning, the weather grew worse. Thunder growled in the sky like an angry monster as Ammar reached school. Students crowded around the submission table in the art room. They all were proudly handing over their paintings. Ammar stood far away near the doorway, his heart beating fast.

Mrs Ahmed, Ammar’s art teacher, noticed him. “Ammar,” she called kindly. “Aren’t you entering the competition?”

Ammar looked down at his canvas bag. Suddenly, doubt and fear overcame him. It looked good to him, but what if his painting was childish? Maybe everyone would laugh at it.

“I don’t know, I am still thinking about it,” Ammar replied.

Hours passed by quickly. By lunchtime, the art room was nearly empty. Ammar glanced at the clock and froze. There were only five minutes left before submissions closed. He started to panic. He imagined himself regretting the chance months later that he had been too afraid to take.

This was the moment Ammar suddenly ran toward the art room and placed his canvas on the table, just one minute before the clock turned twelve.

“Just in time,” Mrs Ahmed smiled. “What a beautiful painting,” she said while looking at it.

As Ammar went home, he felt relieved. He had finally managed to overcome his fear.

A month later, Ammar stood on the stage with all the winners of the art competition. He felt relieved and proud for taking the chance. Ammar learned the importance of taking an opportunity when it came, because opportunities do not wait forever.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 20th, 2026