Page 118 - NEW_English_Spring 7

The band was leading a long
line of marchers. They were Save Our
Trees
carrying a banner which said,
‘Save Our Trees.’ The band Save Our
Trees
was followed by the lady

and the members of her art
class. There were neighbours
and a lot of people from the
town. People I had never seen
before.

‘Thank you,’ cried grandpa as
the crowd passed our tree.

Mukherjee and his men had no choice. They went straight to the town office. They held
a public meeting. It looked as if my grandpa had won the battle of the trees. But still he

would not come down.
He said he would come down only when he saw a written promise. He wanted a properly
signed statement that the trees would not be touched.

I watched him as he sat waiting in the branches. He was reading a book in the orange
glow of the street light. Mukherjee was due back at eight o’ clock with the statement. So

really, grandpa could have come down now. But he was firm.
Grandpa looked tired. He looked ill. I wondered whether to put the ladder up and go

and sit with him. But I was afraid he would not allow me to climb. I went indoors to
make coffee. When I came out, the air was thick and heavy. Grandpa did not even want
a cup of coffee. That worried me more than anything else. I looked up quickly. He was
shivering and looked pale.

‘Grandpa! What is wrong with you?’ I yelled. He said something. It was hard for me to
hear. A strong breeze blew. There was the noise of a thunder clap.

A car arrived. Mukherjee emerged and came towards me waving a piece of paper. It was
signed as grandpa wanted. It was a written statement that the trees would be undisturbed
for people to enjoy. He did not stay long.

I waved the paper and shouted to grandpa that there was good news. But he did not
answer. He just sat in the branches, nodding. His eyes were half closed.

I ran and lifted the ladder. It was heavy. I set it in place and climbed quickly. Something
was wrong with grandpa. He was leaning on a branch. He was asleep. It was not a normal
sleep. He was breathing in short gasps. His face was hot as fire. His hands were cold.

I tried to lift him. He was like a dead weight. I came down. I ran to get to a phone. I
needed help.

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