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Grandpa stopped at the top of the ladder. I was afraid to look in case he fell. His bony
knees were level with the top rung now.
He was hanging onto a branch. He was old and thin. But the spirit within him was young
and strong. He was not as weak as he looked. There was a certain light in his eyes. I knew
that light. It was the light in the eyes of a fighter.

‘Stand away, Sathya,’ he yelled down to me. He kicked the ladder away from the tree. I

stepped aside as it fell. It landed with a loud thud on the grass. The dog yelped and ran
indoors.
It was quiet now. There was just the sound of grandpa’s heavy breathing. This was his

answer to the Municipal Council. The Council had passed plans to cut down the trees
and permit the owner to put up flats there but grandpa had plans of his own.

‘I will make a cup of coffee for you.’ He was fond of coffee. But there was no answer. I told
him, ‘You can see an old film on TV which dates back to your college days.’ Grandpa was
unmoved.

The sunlight filled my eyes. I was quite damp with sweat. I began to feel nervous. Why
must grandpa protect the trees? Why can’t he just go away and have a nice time?

Every time grandpa moved, my heart beat fast. Just to make things worse, I was on my
own with the problem. My grandma and my parents were away at Varanasi, visiting my
aunt Sheela. My younger sister, Divya was away attending summer camp. Only my dog,
Tiger and I were staying with grandpa.

I wanted him to come down. I could not allow him to spend the night on the tree. But he
would not listen. I tried again. ‘Please come down, grandpa. Any minute now, someone is
bound to call the police. So, come down, before it is too late!’ No answer from grandpa.

Not a word.
Grandpa turned. He was looking pleased with himself. He had found a comfortable place
for himself. He grinned down at me and said, ‘I cannot hear anything you say, because of

the breeze.’

There was no breeze. There was not even a breath of air. The heat wave was now in its
second week.
I walked around the tree. I felt worried. I felt angry. I was scared. Things were really

getting out of control. I just wanted life to be normal again.

Grandpa was sitting now.
The clock struck two.

yelled: shouted very loudly, often
because you are angry
yelped: gave a sudden short cry,
especially of pain

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