The Cherry Tree - BCA - 1

                                   “Is this what it feels to be God" 

 

        One day, when Rakesh was coming back to home from the Mussoorie bazaar eating cherries. They were a little sweet, a little sour; small, bright red cherries from the valley of Kashmir. By the time he reached the cottage there were only three cherries left. He ate two cherries and offered one to his grandfather. He kept the last seed in his mouth for some time, rolling it round and round on his tongue. He put the seed on his palm and his grandfather suggested him to plant the seed. Rakesh planted the seed.

        One morning in the garden he saw a well rooted twig and he told his grandfather,

“Dada, come and look, the cherry tree has come up!”

Rakesh started watering the plant; he gave it a sprinkling and circled it with pebbles. He looked at the tree every morning but it did not seem to be growing very fast. So he stopped looking at it – except quickly, out of the corner of his eye.

       After the rainy season Rakesh was upset because goat has eaten away all the leaves of the cherry tree only the main stem and two thin branches remained. Towards the end of the rainy season, new leaves appeared on the tree.

After few months, a woman cutting the grass cut the cherry tree in two parts. Rakesh has sadly said that,

‘May be it will die now,’

But the cherry tree was not ready to die and it started growing again. Rakesh was now eight years old and cherry tree was five years old. Rakesh’s love for the tree can be observed by his caring behaviour towards tree. Even when there was rain, Rakesh would sometimes water the tree. He wanted it to know that he was there. Rakesh also has taken care of the leaves and the tree from various insects like, caterpillar, mantis and many more.

       The cherry tree was special for Rakesh just because he has planted it and taken care of it like God takes care of his children. From just one small seed, there was a big tree now. He ran his hand along the trunk of the tree and put his finger to the tip of a leaf. ‘I wonder,’ he whispered.       

‘Is this what it feels to be God?’

God also takes care of his children and helps them to come out of the problems of life. The tree was about to die three times, first because of goat, second time a woman has cut it into two parts and the third time insects came on the tree an started eating leaves. But because of Rakesh’s love for the tree and care, the tree has not died but it grew taller and taller.

Questions for students:

1. Describe the love of Rakesh for cherry tree.

2. "Nothing is lucky if you put it away, if you want luck you must put it to some use" - Explain.

3. Give your views on - "Is this what it feels to be God?"