One morning, Aleeza and her sister Hania were play­ing games on their iPads. Suddenly, Aleeza thought of an idea and turned to Hania.

“This is the age of AI, it is used everywhere to do things for humans. So why not try to find a treasure through AI’s help?” Aleeza suggested.

Hania laughed and said, “Please stop joking. How can we randomly find a treasure? How do we even know if it really exists?”

“Wait! Let’s ask the AI assistant on our tablet. Maybe it can help us,” Aleeza replied.

They opened their iPads and asked the AI assistant, “Hi, AI assistant! Is there any treasure around this area? Can you help us find it?”

The AI responded, “Yes, there is a treasure hidden in this area!”

The girls were thrilled and asked the AI to guide them. Without wasting time, they packed their backpacks with water bottle, a torch, some tools and were ready to begin their treasure hunt. First, they asked the AI where they should start and if there were any hints.

The AI directed them to a bookstore in their area, saying, “There’s a frame there, and the first hint lies inside it.”

The sisters hopped onto their bicycles and headed toward the bookstore. Once there, they saw many frames hanging on the walls and got confused about which one was the one with the hint.

Suddenly, Aleeza noticed a photo frame on the cashier’s table that seemed very antique. The picture inside was of an old park in the city, which had now been turned into a mini amusement park.

Aleeza called Hania and said, “Look at this!” Then, she asked the cashier, “How long has this frame been here?”

The cashier replied, “Since the shop opened.”

They clicked a photo of the frame and asked the AI, “Can you solve this mystery hint?”

The AI replied, “Yes, of course! The park in the picture is located on the north side of your town. You’ll find the treasure there.”

The girls rushed to the park, but once there, they were clueless about where to start looking for the treasure. They asked the AI for further guidance again.

“Help us find the treasure!” they pleaded.

The AI examined the picture and said, “The treasure is somewhere in the corner near a drainage pipe.”

They began searching all the corners of the park. Eventually, Hania found a drainage pipe in one corner and shouted, “Aleeza, look! I found it! Finally, we’re going to be rich!”

They started looking around for the treasure. They consulted the AI again. The AI replied, “Look for anything odd near the drainage pipe.”

Hania spotted a small box right in front of the drainage pipe.

Aleeza opened the container and found a puzzle block. They took the AI’s help and solved the puzzle within seconds. Inside the puzzle was a new riddle. However, it was written in another language.

They asked the AI to decode it for them, and it did.

The AI replied, “It’s in Persian. And it’s a riddle that says, ‘I am where time flows, yet stands still. I am where reflections reveal truths. Seek me where light meets water’.”

The sisters thought hard about the riddle. Aleeza suddenly exclaimed, “It must be the lake near the old clock tower! Time flows, but stands still because of the clock, and the lake reflects everything!”

They reached the lake, but they were still unsure where to look. They asked the AI for help again. The AI responded, “Look for a hollow tree near the lake’s edge. That’s where the treasure lies.”

They searched around and found an old, hollow tree. Inside, there was a beautifully carved wooden box. They opened it excitedly, expecting gold or jewels. Instead, they found an ancient-looking scroll.

The scroll read: “You have found the true treasure: the ability to think, explore and wonder.”

Aleeza and Hania exchanged confused looks. “Is this some kind of prank?” Hania asked.

But just as she said this, the AI said, “Congratulations! You girls have unlocked the ultimate reward — knowledge. True treasure is not gold or jewels, but the power of curiosity and discovery.”

Aleeza furrowed her brows. “So… there’s no actual treasure?”

The AI’s voice echoed again. “Knowledge is the greatest treasure of all. With it, you can unlock endless possibilities.”

Just then, a soft golden glow came from the hollow, and an old leather book emerged. Aleeza’s eyes widened. “Wait, there is a treasure!”

Hania hesitated before picking up that old leather-bound book. “Maybe this isn’t so bad after all.”

As they flipped through the pages, the AI said, “Every great explorer, scientist and thinker started with a question. And today, you’ve proven yourselves worthy of the greatest adventure — learning.”

The girls closed the book and rode back to their home, excited to read the book that was their gift.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 19th, 2025