A short message makes Karim think his friend is upset with him. A phone call reveals the missing reason and helps them arrange another study session.
01Read the Arabic story
رِسَالَةٌ قَصِيرَةٌ وَسُوءُ فَهْمٍ
اِتَّفَقَ كَرِيمٌ وَسَمِيرٌ عَلَى الْمُرَاجَعَةِ مَعًا فِي الْمَكْتَبَةِ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ فِي السَّاعَةِ الْخَامِسَةِ. فِي الصَّبَاحِ، أَرْسَلَ سَمِيرٌ رِسَالَةً قَصِيرَةً: «لَا تَأْتِ الْيَوْمَ». لَمْ يَكْتُبْ سَبَبًا. قَرَأَ كَرِيمٌ الرِّسَالَةَ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَشَعَرَ بِالْحُزْنِ، لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَفْهَمْ مَا حَدَثَ.
تَذَكَّرَ كَرِيمٌ أَنَّهُ أَعَادَ كِتَابَ سَمِيرٍ بَعْدَ الْمَوْعِدِ بِيَوْمٍ. قَالَ لِنَفْسِهِ: «رُبَّمَا هُوَ غَاضِبٌ مِنِّي بِسَبَبِ الْكِتَابِ». لَمْ يُرِدْ أَنْ يَبْقَى قَلِقًا، فَاتَّصَلَ بِسَمِيرٍ وَسَأَلَهُ: «هَلْ فَعَلْتُ شَيْئًا أَزْعَجَكَ؟» أَجَابَ سَمِيرٌ: «لَا، لَسْتُ غَاضِبًا. لِمَاذَا تَسْأَلُ؟» فَقَرَأَ لَهُ كَرِيمٌ الرِّسَالَةَ.
قَالَ سَمِيرٌ: «آه، الْمَكْتَبَةُ مُغْلَقَةٌ هَذَا الْمَسَاءَ لِإِصْلَاحِ الْبَابِ. أَرْسَلْتُ الرِّسَالَةَ بِسُرْعَةٍ وَنَسِيتُ أَنْ أَكْتُبَ السَّبَبَ. كُنْتُ أَقْصِدُ أَنَّ لِقَاءَنَا فِي الْمَكْتَبَةِ غَيْرُ مُمْكِنٍ الْيَوْمَ». قَالَ كَرِيمٌ: «ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّكَ لَا تُرِيدُ رُؤْيَتِي». أَجَابَ سَمِيرٌ: «أَنَا آسِفٌ، رِسَالَتِي لَمْ تَكُنْ وَاضِحَةً».
اِتَّفَقَ الصَّدِيقَانِ عَلَى الْمُرَاجَعَةِ فِي بَيْتِ سَمِيرٍ فِي الْيَوْمِ التَّالِي، فِي الْخَامِسَةِ أَيْضًا. بَعْدَ الْمُكَالَمَةِ، كَتَبَ سَمِيرٌ رِسَالَةً جَدِيدَةً: «الْمَكْتَبَةُ مُغْلَقَةٌ الْيَوْمَ. سَنَلْتَقِي غَدًا فِي بَيْتِي فِي الْخَامِسَةِ». رَدَّ كَرِيمٌ: «الْآنَ فَهِمْتُ. إِلَى اللِّقَاءِ غَدًا». وَضَعَ هَاتِفَهُ عَلَى الْمَكْتَبِ وَهُوَ يَشْعُرُ بِالرَّاحَةِ.
Show English translationHide English translation
Karim and Samir agreed to revise together at the library on Thursday at five o’clock. In the morning, Samir sent a short message: “Do not come today.” He did not write a reason. Karim read the message twice and felt sad because he did not understand what had happened.
Karim remembered that he had returned Samir’s book a day late. He said to himself, “Perhaps he is angry with me because of the book.” He did not want to remain worried, so he called Samir and asked, “Did I do something that upset you?” Samir answered, “No, I am not angry. Why do you ask?” Karim then read him the message.
Samir said, “Oh, the library is closed this evening so the door can be repaired. I sent the message quickly and forgot to write the reason. I meant that meeting at the library is not possible today.” Karim said, “I thought you did not want to see me.” Samir answered, “I am sorry. My message was not clear.”
The two friends agreed to revise at Samir’s home the following day, also at five. After the call, Samir wrote a new message: “The library is closed today. We will meet tomorrow at my home at five.” Karim replied, “Now I understand. See you tomorrow.” He put his phone on the desk, feeling relieved.
02Useful words from the story
| Arabic in the story | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| رِسَالَةً قَصِيرَةً | a short message |
| مَرَّتَيْنِ | twice |
| بِالْحُزْنِ | sad; with sadness |
| غَاضِبٌ | angry |
| أَزْعَجَكَ | upset you |
| لِإِصْلَاحِ الْبَابِ | to repair the door |
| ظَنَنْتُ | I thought; I assumed |
| وَاضِحَةً | clear; feminine |
03Check your understanding
Choose one answer for each question. Look back at the Arabic story when you need a clue. Open the English support if you need help understanding a question.
What to remember
- Karim first connects the short message with a late book return, but Samir explains that the library is closed.
- The new message includes the missing reason and gives a clear place and time for their next meeting.
Explore the Arabic in this story
Related grammar and vocabularyOpen Araqick guides connected to this story.
Phone Arabic: 6 Simple Phrases for Calls and Messages
رِسَالَةً قَصِيرَةً
Follow a short message, a clarifying phone call and a clearer written reply.
Arabic Question Words: Who, What, Where, When, and Why
لِمَاذَا تَسْأَلُ؟
Notice how a question helps the friends check what the message meant.
Arabic Future Tense for Beginners: Talk About Tomorrow
سَنَلْتَقِي غَدًا فِي بَيْتِي فِي الْخَامِسَةِ
Understand the revised plan in Samir’s complete final message.
