Hey look! Langdu has come in a colour dress today. Must be his birthday,"Manohar sniggered.

"Happy Birthday, langdu!" Manohar's gang chorused and Varun's faceturned red with embarrassment. He had hoped that at least on his birthday Manohar and his friends would spare him.

Varun and Manohar were class five students of Digvijay Public School. Varun had fallen down the staircase when he was a toddler and had twisted his ankle. As a result of this injury he had developed a permanent limp. This made him an ideal target for everyone to poke fun at.

Manohar, in particular, was very mean. He was the class bully and hated Varun because he was better in studies. He had named Varun langdu (a person who walks with a limp) and the nickname had become very popular throughout the school.

Every time Varun heard anyone call him langdu, he cringed.

That evening when he returned home the maali (gardener) gave him another pieceof bad news -- Mittal seth was planning to cut down the Peepal tree.

Varun lived with his parents on the first floor of Lakshmi Nivas, a two-storeyed bungalow owned by Baidyanath Mittal. Mittal lived on the ground floor along with his wife Lakshmi. They had no children. Lakshmi Nivas had a fairly large compound with a lawn and surrounding it a flowerbed. In one corner of the compound was a huge Peepal tree. It had been there for as long as Varun could remember. It was his favourite hideout.

Whenever he felt lonely he would climb up and, perching himself on one of its branches, he would read a book. Many a time he had escaped a spanking or avoided meeting an obnoxious uncle or an overbearing aunt by disappearing into the thick foliage of the tree.

Lakshmi Dadi (grandmother) was very fond of Varun and treated him like her own grandchild. She was a terrific cook and liked to make Varun's favourite dishes. She loved to watch him eat.Dadu' (grandfather,) on the other hand, was a grumpy old man. He reminded Varun of the old Mr.Wilson of 'Dennis the Menace' fame. Dadu considered Varun a pest and tried his best to avoid him. But because of Lakshmi Dadi's love for Varun he kept silent most of the time.

When Varun entered the living room he found Dadi knitting a sweater.

"Dadi, I have come to fight with Dadu."

"Oh my! But why, beta (son)?" she asked with mock seriousness.

"He is planning to get my Peepal tree cut."

"Yes, son, I know. He plans to build a room there."

"But, Dadi, cutting down trees is a crime."

"Why?"

"Dadi, trees give us so many things -- food to eat, air to breathe. They provide shelter to us as well as to a number of animals and birds. We getmedicines, paper, wood, gum and numerous other useful things from them.And this Peepal tree is so special to me. I love it as much as I love you, Dadi," Varun said, throwing his arms around her and giving her a big hug.

"Okay, okay, my child. I am convinced. I'll talk to Dadu and persuade him. You leave it to me."..