‘Mom, I have a new assignment today. We have to click pictures of ten happy people and write a sentence about each and make a collage,’ said Aisha.

‘That’s interesting!’

‘Yes… but isn’t it a bit weird?’

‘Not weird, but yes, unusual,’ said Anita as she looked up briefly from her laptop. ‘Mom, are you a happy person? Can I click your picture?’

‘Umm… I don’t know really... let me think... am I happy? I don’t know, Aisha. You can ask your father when he’s back. He is good with such questions. Please let me finish my work.’

‘And where’s Jojo?’

‘He’s gone cycling. You know he can’t sleep at night if he hasn’t played outside.’

Aisha couldn’t wait to start her happiness project, so she decided to go outside to look for happy people. She saw Sammy fiddling with his basketball in the garden.

‘Sam, are you happy?’

‘What! What kind of question is that?’

‘Are you happy? Please say yes. I need to collect pictures of ten happy people for my school project,’ said Aisha, holding her mom’s mobile, eager to take a snap.

‘I will be really happy if I can draw as well as you can.’ Aisha went away disappointed.

Then she saw little Sweetie trying to catch butterflies. ‘Sweetie, are you happy?’

‘Yes, I’m happy. I love playing with butterflies? Would you join me?’

‘Yes, I would love to, but I have a lot of work to do. Can I take your picture?’ ‘Yessss,’ said Sweetie. She liked to get clicked.

Roli thanked Sweetie and left in search of the next happy person. But no one was around, except Subu uncle, the watchman.

‘Subu uncle, are you happy?’ she asked.

‘Hello Aisha. Well, I’m happy sometimes and sad sometimes. Right now, I’m happy because I’m listening to my favourite song.’

‘That’s great. Can I please take your picture.’

‘Sure,’ Subu gave Aisha a broad smile, showing off his crooked tooth, which he considered his lucky charm.

‘Thank you, Subu uncle,’ Aisha said and walked home, pleased that she had found two happy people, but she had to find eight more in two days!

Some kids submitted their assignments the next day. Some, like Aisha, needed more time. ‘Aisha, couldn’t you find happy people?’ asked Ms. Molly.

‘I could find only two.’

‘It’s very simple. Just help them or tell them a joke or a story, or give them an honest compliment. When they become happy, you can click their picture. It’s that simple.’

‘Oh, I never thought of that.’

Aisha thanked Miss Molly for the valuable tip.

She couldn’t wait to go home and complete her project.

As usual, Jojo was out cycling, and mom was in the kitchen. ‘Mom, can I help you make dinner?’

‘Oh, Aisha, that would be so nice. I’m so happy you asked. I am really tired today,’ said her mom, with a sigh of relief and a big smile.

Aisha changed, had lunch and then went to help her mom. She washed the chopped vegetables, filled the water bottles and lay the table. Her mom gave her a tight hug.

She felt wonderful seeing her mom happy and relaxed, and clicked a selfie with her. ‘This feels so nice,’ she thought. Now she knew how to make people happy.

She first went to Sammy’s house.

‘Sammy, can I show you a few tricks to draw an ant?’

‘Yes, please, Aisha. I would love that.’

‘OK, but first let me take a picture of your nice smiling face and then we will draw many different types of ants.’

Though Aisha wanted to go and find the next happy person, she patiently taught Sammy how to draw ants and waited as he practiced. He was overjoyed.

Next, she found Jojo parking his bicycle. She praised him for his cycling stunts, which pleased him so much that he was ready to pose with a big smile there and then.

Bankim, too, smiled happily when she asked him to teach him dribbling, and Manu, who was cribbing about homework, at once broke into laughter when Aisha told him joke after joke.

It was not difficult to make Coco happy. Aisha just had to listen to his riddles and tongue- twisters.

She also took her own selfie. She was happy, after all, in making others happy.

The next day at school she ran here and there looking for Miss Molly. She couldn’t wait to tell her how well her idea had worked.

She was rushing down the stairs when she skipped a step.

‘Aah!’ she screamed in pain. A boy passing by at once came to help.

‘Thank you… umm... ,’ she said, rising with difficulty. ‘What’s your name?’ ‘I’m Ronil. Are you fine?’

‘Yes, thank you so much.’ ‘That’s great.’

He was about to go when Aisha stopped him and asked if she could take his picture. He looked so happy, after all!

‘It’s true. Happiness is helping others in need,’ she said to herself and went about looking for Miss Molly.

THE END