“Dear children, what do you wish to be?” asked Granny.

“Oh! I desperately want to be a princess,” replied Amana. She dreamt and dreamt of owning a tiara, fancy frocks and ponies. So far, her wish had not been fulfilled.

“Oh dear! You want to be a princess, it is easy to be a princess but for that you must follow these three rules. They are from a special place.”

Granny then wrote them down on a piece of paper and handed it to her. It read:

1. You must help any old person you see.

2. You must greet people gaily, especially those who are sad and the postman who comes to your house everyday in the morning.

3. You must feed the birds in the morning.

By following these simple steps, you can be a prince or a princess.

“Granny, aren’t these things a bit strange to follow. I was expecting you to give me a tiara!” said Amana.

“No, dear girl! These are indeed very simple and not at all strange. You will find that there are not only tiaras, dresses or fancy manners to becoming princes and princesses, but there is much more, and that is what is in your heart,” answered granny wisely.

Amana was not satisfied, but she decided that something was better than nothing.

So every day she woke up early in the morning and fed the hungry birds. Soon, the birds became fond of her and chirped gaily to greet her. Their song filled her ears with joy.

Amana also greeted everyone with a smile and soon everyone wanted to talk to her. Amana didn’t know that her unexpected smile directed towards miserable people lifted the sadness out of their lives. But she felt a certain joy when they smiled in return and sadness disappeared from their faces, even though momentarily.

She, who hadn’t ever talked to the old postman, started to greet him. She saw him as a wonder who was a source of information. The postman was a retired teacher who now performed this duty of spreading happiness and connecting people.

She also helped the old lady next-door walk to the park and both were soon friends. The old lady liked Amana for her sweet nature and Amana liked the old lady for her love and stories. She beamed, especially when she was called “the princess of hearts.”

Amana felt that she understood Granny’s meaning very well. Whether, it was her maturity or the effect of these interactions, she learnt to see the world with new eyes and soon began to spread as much goodness as anyone could.

She was called “princess” now and then by the people she was kind towards. Amana was now the princess of her own heart.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 21st, 2018