By Divya Munjal

Today, while walking through the roadside I came across a small child sitting in a corner. He seemed to be quite weak. His face was dry, and arms and legs were bent. I stopped for a while to ask his story. I bent on my knees to speak to him, but to my surprise he started weeping. I tried to console him but in vain. I asked, “O, dear. What’s the problem? What are you doing here? Who brought you here?” He kept sobbing and finally answered, “My name is Sapling. I was growing well in my house, popularly known as ‘Nursery’. One fine day, a leader started his plantation drive. They uprooted me and some of my siblings from my house and brought us here, with a promise of better life. After their plantation drive was over, they left and never came back. It has been 15 days now when I had my food. My siblings were strong enough to bear the adversities of nature, so they sustained. But as I was too young, I could not bear the harshness of weather. I have become too weak now to live anymore. Anyone who cannot take care of us has no right to uproot us. Could you pass my message to all such persons?” His story brought tears in my eyes. I request all such persons not to be so mean to leave small saplings to their fate. This Sapling has lost his life, but I pray all of you to be sensitive to other saplings. Take good care of them, like you would care for your children.