Adventures of Raghu - Dada

One more week of exams were left. Raghu had not even opened some of his textbooks during the school term this time. His mother was therefore adamant that he sit in his room and study.

 “Plants breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. While we humans breathe in this oxygen, and breathe out carbon dioxide which is then used by the plants.” Read aloud Raghu as he studied for his Science exam the next day.

"Wow! That is so fascinating!" thought Raghu as he looked outside his room window.

The windows were open and a slight breeze was blowing over Raghu’s face. The birds in the garden were chirping and he could hear some of the grasshoppers making their own distinct sounds. Winter was almost over and spring was here, it was the time of year Raghu loved most! Trees that had been lifeless for the winter, were suddenly sprouting with new green buds, the colours in all of nature was coming back alive. How Raghu longed to go back and be outside.

Raghu got up from his study chair and went towards the window to breathe in the fresh air. As he stood there his eyes fell on the huge banyan tree in his house garden. It was an old, beautiful banyan tree.

It was older than Raghu and Raghu had reason to believe that it was as old as the universe itself! It’s long branches hung such that they almost touched the ground and its huge roots had spread all over the garden. Its trunk was big and sturdy, and it held in it the wisdom of many ages past. That is why the family had even named it – ‘Dada’, literally meaning Grandfather. He protected everyone in the house and was wise like an old grandfather. When Raghu was very young, his mother would tell him stories at night and then point towards the big banyan tree outside his window and tell him “Dada is watching over you as you sleep.” It gave Raghu a warm feeling in his heart, he felt protected and loved. No one could harm him when Dada was there.

Raghu thought back to what he had just read in his book as he looked at the banyan tree- “What you exhale, we inhale. And what we inhale, you exhale. What a close relationship we share Dada.”  He had felt close to Dada on many occasions, but today he realized that his connection was much closer than he had ever realized.

Raghu felt a sudden urge to go outside and hug Dada. He ran to the front door of the house and straight into the garden to Dada! He hugged Dada till as far as his short arms could reach!

Raghu closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He felt the oxygen reach every cell of his body and felt grateful for the life breath that he had received from Dada. He then deeply exhaled all the breath within him as though offering his own breath to the old banyan tree. “We will always be connected through the thread of our breaths Dada” whispered Raghu as he gave a tight hug to Dada and smiled.