class Solution:
    def mergeAlternately(self, word1: str, word2: str) -> str:
        result = []
        i, j = 0, 0
        while i < len(word1) and j < len(word2):
            result.append(word1[i])
            result.append(word2[j])
            i += 1
            j += 1
        result.append(word1[i:])
        result.append(word2[j:])
        return "".join(result)

sol = Solution()
print("Output is :- ",sol.mergeAlternately("abc","pqr"))
print("Output is :- ",sol.mergeAlternately("ab","pqrs"))
print("Output is :- ",sol.mergeAlternately("abcd","pq"))

Output is :-  apbqcr
Output is :-  apbqrs
Output is :-  apbqcd