In the heart of the city, amongst densely populated neighborhoods, there lived a germ named Luke who wandered on the heaps of waste in a waste drum along with a gazillion other germs. As a precautionary measure, the government disinfected cities by fogging them with disinfectant spray to avoid the increase of diseases spread by various new viruses and germs. It was one of those days when following the ritual of fogging, Luke came under attack and was found on the verge of death. Breathless with suffocation by the strong fumes of chlorine, Luke felt the death nearing.  At that moment, all he could picture was a well-spent life spanning over eight hours and twenty-five minutes on a mission to harm humans.  

Luke had led a productive life not sparing a single minute or a chance to contaminate a human life. He saw his life in flashbacks, scenes appearing in front of his eyes, one after the other showing him feeding on the remnant food left unclean on the face of a toddler. Due to this, the innocent baby fell sick with influenza and lost weight while recovering from a week-long disease.  The other scene displayed him poking into the wound on the knee of a boy who had had a fall from a slide in the park, which eventually caused septic in the wound. Then Luke saw himself clung onto the bodies of the people perched upon the unclean garden benches and making them sick with the common cold. 
While revisiting his glorious past, in the moments of triumph, suddenly a strange feeling of remorse washed over him spurring a speck of goodness embedded somewhere deep within him.  An approximately eight and a half minutes old germ, Luke felt an urge to address humans and share the secret to a safe and a healthy life with them. Luke was born in the marshy water of a deserted locality, taking advantage of its microscopic size, Luke set off to play havoc in the world of humans. Jumping from one place to another, he thrived superabundantly on doorknobs, tables, toys, and almost everything. Humans being unable to see Luke with their naked eyes remained oblivious towards him and his fraternity. 
Rotten food, drainage lines, rubbish bins, sewage water, in short, Luke was found in all the dirty places devouring dirt and carrying it around through its body. Upon seeing humans with dirty hands, Luke happily landed on them and festered more germs causing them to fall sick with diseases like the common cold, fever, typhoid, and diarrhea to name a few. Humans living with poor sanitation facilities were the prime victims of Luke and his clan. Failing to comprehend the cause of their illness, humans remained unaware and showed negligence towards the unknown enemy lurking around them.
Luke jeered at the foolishness of humans when they touched their faces, mouths, and eyes, with dirty hands hence accelerating the chance of transferring more germs and causing them to fall sick. Humans who had all the power of knowledge and tools to keep them safe from him and his clan just could not manage to be vigilant against them at all times. However, with time, humans did evolve in every sphere of life and improved their sanitation, hygiene, and health, too.  However, they kept falling sick with diseases caused by the unseen germs. With mighty courage, Luke finally revealed that the secret of staying healthy was washing their hands frequently.     
Luke declared that handwashing is a powerful ritual for human beings and the most essential part of protection from germs and diseases. Luke confessed water, soap, and sanitizers as the three main shields used in washing hands by humans, against all kinds of germs. When these tools are used timely and properly by humans it benefits their health and keeps them safe from all kinds of germs and diseases spread by them. Luke informed me that water alone was not of much threat but once heated it killed almost all kinds of germs. 
The other effective tool against Luke and his clan was the soap. Rubbing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds focusing on all parts of hands, fingers, and nails killed 99 percent of germs in each go. Amongst the discoveries, Luke regarded sanitizers as ‘the magical potions’ for they worked wonders in the absence of water and soap. Containing 60 percent alcohol, sanitizers kill germs when applied on hands and rubbed till dry, an extraordinary weapon that humans carry everywhere with them. However, the problem arises when they forget to wash their hands before and after eating food, after using toilet, playing outside, visiting sick in hospital, and being in public places.  
Germs breed in dirt, so cleaning floors, tabletops, doorknobs, handles, and other surfaces with disinfectants clears them off from all kinds of germs making them safe for human touch. Choked by fogging, Luke took a sigh and died in oblivion.
Did you notice friends? Luke was born as a threat to humans regarding their health and he did accomplish his goal but just before dying, he shared some great knowledge about his fraternity and unraveled all the places where germs breed and are found. Luke cautioned us by emphasizing the importance of washing hands. Germs are found all around us, and becoming habitual in washing hands is the only way to keep the germs at bay.  
So, friends! Do you think we still have a margin to care less about keeping our hands clean?

The Exam Days
Amber Hira

The examination days are here,  
With adrenaline and a little fear.  
Books and notes piled high,  
Hoping all the facts won’t fly.  

I’ve studied hard, I’ve done my best,  
Now it’s time to take the test.  
Pencils ready, papers neat,  
Heart is racing, feel the heat.  

Questions come, I take my time,  
One by one, I start to climb.  
Sometimes easy, sometimes tough,  
But I know that I am enough.  

Deep breaths in, I’ll stay on track,  
And trust in all the things I lack.  
The bell will ring, the time will end,  
And I’ll be proud of what I’ve penned.  

Exams may come, and exams may go,  
But what I learn will always grow.  
So, don’t worry, and do your best,  
That’s the key to passing any test.