A man and a mango tree(sumit) Four-year-old boy Ramesh was playing in the home garden. His grandfather came with a small tree in his hands. Seeing this Ramesh asked him, "Grandpa what is this?"

"This is a mango tree and we are going to plant it, " Grandfather replied and proceeded to a corner of the home garden. Ramesh followed him. Grandfather began to dig a hole to plant the mango tree. Ramesh was curious about it. He asked, "Grandpa, why are you planting it?"

"So that we can eat fresh mangoes from our tree. We will not have to spend money on buying them."

Ramesh asked, "When will it give us mangoes? I like mangoes."

Grandpa replied, "After two years or so." Grandpa looked at him and said, "Here I planted it. Give it some water." saying so Grandpa handed him a jug filled with water. Ramesh poured the water around the mango tree.

Grandpa said to him, "Plants need water to grow. From now you will water it from time to time."

Ramesh was fascinated with the mango tree. The soil was fertile and getting water and manure regularly, the mango tree began to grow faster. Ramesh was waiting eagerly for the tree to bear fruit.

Grandfather was about sixty-five years retired soldier living with his son named Mohan who was a clerk in a bank. They have a big house in a small town.

Time flew and after about four years, in spring, the mango tree bloomed with flowers. The Grandpa and the grandson both were happy that they would eat fresh mangoes. After some time, the tree got laden with tiny and raw mangoes. All in the family were waiting for getting ripe mangoes. When they tested the first ripened mango, they found it as sweet as honey.

One morning, when Ramesh woke up, He found his father and mother weeping in his grandfather's room. His grandmother was silent but tears were flowing from her eyes. The neighbors were also present and they were talking about their grandfather. When he asked his mother what happened. She replied to him that his grandfather passed away. He was sad. His grandmother who was weeping, somehow managed to say to him, "Those who do good, go to heaven after death. Your grandfather was a good man who always did good to others."

Times don't stop for anyone. Time flew and now Ramesh was twelve years old. Every season, the mango tree bloomed with thousands of flowers, and the entire garden and home filled with the fragrance of flowers. Ramesh liked the fragrance. It made him remember the day when his grandfather had planted the tree.

One day Ramesh's grandmother while remembering his Grandpa, said to him that we turn into stars when we die. That night he looked up the sky and found numerous stars twinkling and he began to think which one was my grandfather. But later, one day his teacher taught him that it was just a myth. His grandmother was an expert in telling stories. She used to tell him bedtime stories when he was a small child. She was also an expert in making pickles. She was a hardworking lady and he found her always busy doing something or the other. She passed away when he was fourteen years old.

Ramesh passed middle school and his father decided to get him admitted to a famous boarding school for further studies in the neighboring city. Manoj was unwilling to go but he had to go to that boarding school leaving behind his town, home, and the mango tree. In boarding school, he got busy with studying and friends but never forgot his home and the mango tree and its sweet mangoes. When he came home in summer vacations, the mango tree greeted him with its sweet mangoes.

Time flew and Ramesh completed his school education. He returned home. The mango tree had been fully grown and was providing shadow and ample place for birds to build their nests.

One morning, Ramesh was unhappy and looking at mango trees through the window of his room. He would have to go to another city to take admission to a college for his graduation but his mother was seriously ill and his father had to spend a lot of money on her treatment. Ramesh decided to get admission next year so that there would be no money problem for treatment and he would be available to look after his mother. But his mother was not in favor of wasting a year. Father also insisted on sending him to college. He was feeling sorry. His father said to him, "Your aunt is ready to come here and look after your mother. As for money, I took a loan. No need to think about money."

Ramesh wanted to argue with his father but his father handed him the ticket for the journey. It was his final decision to be followed by the son. Ramesh said to his father, "I will not disappoint you." He did not disappoint his father. He left no stone unturned in his graduation. He got the degree with flying colors. Fortunately, he did have not to wait long to get a good job. He got a job and that too in his hometown. After getting the job, he paid off all the loans taken by his father.

He and his parents were so happy. Their sacrifice did not go in vain.

It was Ramesh's idea to hold the ring ceremony of his marriage under the shade of the mango tree in the home garden, although his relatives and friends wanted the ceremony to be held in a posh hotel. At the time of marriage, all the important marriage rituals were done under the shade of the mango tree. Later he told his wife Asha all about the mango tree. It was not certain whether she was impressed or not with the story. Asha had a green thumb. She used to grow vegetables and ornamental plants in the home garden. She planted some crotons under the shade of the mango tree. She used to pickle the unripe mangoes. Days and months passed and a day came when Asha gave birth to a child. The home was sounded with the baby's crying, cooing, and babbling. Those were the happiest days. Ramesh's father was very happy being the grandfather. So good days these were. They named the child Anand. Anand used to play under the shade of the tree and liked to eat its sweet mangoes.

One day Ramesh's father fell seriously ill. He was admitted to the hospital where doctors did everything to save him but he succumbed to illness. Ramesh wept like a child and felt himself alone. His mother became silent and weak after the death of his father. She was a devoted wife and her entire life was centered around her husband and son. She began to spend her days taking care of Anand.

The mango tree was still there like a family member. Stood with the family in every ups and downs.

Man is mortal, everyone is bound to die. A year after the death of Ramesh's father, his mother passed away. After the funeral, Manoj came home and sat for hours under the shade of the tree. The mango tree seemed to give consolation to him.

Days, weeks, months, and years passed. Anand grew into a young man. He was a doctor always busy treating patients and always talking about medicines. He had no time to think about the mango tree but he liked to eat its fruit. The mango tree was a source of fresh and organic mangoes for him.

One day, Anand told his father Ramesh that he wanted to marry his girlfriend Radha. Ramesh was of old thoughts and didn't like the idea of love Marriage. There was a great argument between the father and son. Asha stood with Anand and she convinced Ramesh. Ramesh agreed with one condition that the ring ceremony shall be held under the shade of the mango tree. Anand agreed to this condition. Anand knew that his father had done the same at the time of his ring ceremony. The day of the ring ceremony came, It was the spring season and the mango tree was in bloom spreading a sweet fragrance all around. That day Anand himself felt as if the mango tree were blessing him and congratulating him and his fiance Radha. Radha believed in the nature and its power. Radha believed in God and deities. When Anand told her about his feelings at the time of the ceremony, she said, "It is a power of nature. The mango tree gave us blessings and congratulations. We are lucky to have a blessing and congratulations."

Anand and Radha were really lucky. Radha gave birth to a son after two years of their marriage. Anand was getting name and fame as a doctor. The entire family especially Ramesh was happy. The family was happy and prosperous under the shade of the mango tree.

Nothing is immortal in the world. One night, there came a storm with lightning, thunder, and heavy rain in the town. The storm played havoc in the city. The electricity was out. The family was waiting for the storm to die down. All of a sudden they heard a heavy cracking sound for some moments and then a tremendous thudding sound. Ramesh and Anand opened a window slightly and looked out and found the mango tree fallen on the ground. The trunk of the mango tree was heavy enough to break the boundary wall of the house. Fortunately, the tree did not fall on the house. Seeing this Ramesh got emotional and sad. His eyes got wet with tears. He could not sleep even for a few minutes. When the storm died down in the morning, Ramesh and Anand went out to see the fallen mango tree. Ramesh was still sad. Ramesh was feeling as if he had lost one of his family members. He stood still in front of the fallen mango tree for a while and then went to his room.

The fallen mango tree had been removed by the municipality workers by noon. Everyone in the family was missing the mango tree.

After some days, one fine morning, when Ramesh was reading a newspaper, his five-year-old grandson came to him with a small mango tree in his hands and said to him, "Grandpa, see what father came from the bazaar."

Seeing a small mango tree in his grandson's hands, the memory of the day came to Ramesh when he and his grandpa had planted a small mango tree in their courtyard. A smile came to his face and he said to his grandson, "Let's plant it in the garden." After planting the mango tree, Ramesh said to his grandson, "One day this tree will grow big and give a lot of sweet mangoes."

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