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Vikram sprinted through the school corridors. His breath came in gasps, his heart pounding against his ribs. The tree's scream still echoed in his mind. Arjuna was in danger.
"Madam! Biology Madam!" he shouted, banging on every classroom door.
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Finally, he found her in the laboratory. Lakshmi Madam—the young, enthusiastic Biology teacher known for her immense love for flora.
"Vikram? What happened?" she asked, seeing his panicked face.
"Madam! Emergency at the theatre! They are cutting down the big Mango tree! Arjun is lying under it!"
Lakshmi Madam looked shocked. "What? Come on, quick!"
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They both ran towards the open-air theatre. The roar of the chainsaw was still audible.
"Stop! Turn off that machine immediately!" Lakshmi Madam shouted with authority.
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Muniyappa stopped the chainsaw in surprise. "Madam, but this branch is blocking the stage—"
"Put that chainsaw down. Now." Lakshmi Madam said firmly.
Confused, Muniyappa lowered the machine.
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Arjuna slowly stood up. His legs were trembling, but his face showed relief.
Lakshmi Madam rushed to him. "Are you hurt? What were you thinking?"
"I couldn't let them kill this tree, Madam," Arjuna said softly.
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Lakshmi Madam looked at his face. She realized this wasn't just teenage drama. This boy had a genuine connection with the tree.
She looked at the tree intently. Its thick bark, massive branches, the ancient look.
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"This tree must be at least fifty years old," she addressed the gathering crowd. "If you cut that main branch, the whole tree will die."
Mallappa Sir approached. "But Madam, that branch is obstructing the view of the stage—"
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"Trees are not just wood," Lakshmi Madam said boldly. "They are living ecosystems. Look—how many bird nests are there. How many insects, how many creatures depend on it."
The students gathered around, listening intently.
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"This tree has stood here for fifty years," she continued. "It was here when your grandparents came to this school. It gave them shade, and it gives us shade. Is it right to destroy it for one Annual Day?"
Silence. The students looked at each other.
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The Practical Solution
Lakshmi Madam walked around the theatre, observing the stage and the seating area.
"Mallappa Sir, look," she said. "If we arrange the chairs diagonally instead of straight..."
She moved a few chairs to demonstrate. "There. From this angle, the stage is completely visible. The tree branch won't be in the way."
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Mallappa Sir looked. Realization dawned on his face. "Yes! That works!"
"No need to cut the tree at all," Lakshmi Madam smiled. "Just a smart arrangement."
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Muniyappa sighed in relief. "I am happy too, Madam. Less work for me."
The students started clapping. The tree was safe. The event could go on.
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Arjuna walked slowly to the base of the tree. He placed his hand on the old bark, touching it gently.
"Thank you," he whispered, too soft for anyone else to hear.
Something came from the tree—peace, gratitude, comfort. A communication that only Arjuna could feel.
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Vikram and Kiran joined him. The three stood under the tree, silent, but happy.
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The crowd began to disperse. The teachers started planning the new seating arrangement. Muniyappa packed his gear.
The tree stood—safe, whole, alive.
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After the crowd left, the three friends sat under the tree. Under the shade of the tree they had just saved.
A long silence. All three were lost in their thoughts.
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Kiran spoke first. "That... that was different from yesterday's meditation."
"Yes," Vikram said slowly. "We all heard the tree's pain, didn't we?"
Arjuna nodded. "It’s not imagination. It’s real."
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The three looked at each other. There was recognition in their eyes—they had all experienced something extraordinary.
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Arjuna stretched his hands, breathing deeply. "I... I feel amazing. Like everything is connected."
His face held peace and bliss. He touched the grass, the tree bark. He could feel the vibration of life from everything.
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Kiran flexed his fingers. "I feel this tingling sensation. Like electricity running under my skin."
He looked at his hands closely. They felt different—more sensitive, more alive.
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Vikram said with surprise. "I haven't had any asthma trouble today. Usually, running makes me wheeze immediately. But today... I feel more energetic than ever."
He took a deep breath, testing it. No difficulty. No wheezing.
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Vikram looked at the other two. "That book isn't just history. It’s instructions."
"Yes," Arjuna said softly. "We can actually communicate with plants."
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Kiran—always the practical one—asked thoughtfully. "So... what do we do with this power?"
Silence. The weight of that question fell on them.
They were no longer normal teenagers. They had found something extraordinary. But with it came responsibility.
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"We don't know," Vikram said finally. "But we have to learn. We have to understand."
Arjuna nodded. "Slowly. Carefully."
"And secretly," Kiran added. "No one else should know that we can hear trees scream."
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The three nodded in agreement.
Their journey had begun. The path to becoming Guardians of the Flora. But they didn't realize yet—where this path would take them.
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eparations for the Annual Day had resumed in the school ground. Students were working on banners, practicing dances.
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In a corner, a girl was standing. Priya—from the 9th Grade. She was watching the three friends closely, especially Vikram.
She was their neighbor. She had known them since childhood. But since last year... Vikram had started looking different to her.
Those glasses, his passion for books, and the sparkle in his eyes when he explained something...
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Priya watched Vikram. He was explaining something excitedly to Arjuna and Kiran. His hands were moving, his face animated.
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Her friend Reshma noticed her. "You are looking at Vikram again, aren't you!"
Priya blushed. "I am not looking. Just... observing."
"Really?" Reshma teased. "You've been 'observing' him for the last ten minutes."
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Priya nudged her friend lightly. "Shut up."
But her eyes drifted back to Vikram. He was laughing at something Arjuna said. That laugh made Priya’s heart beat a little faster.
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Her Curiosity
"Did you see the tree incident?" Priya asked Reshma. "Why was Arjuna lying down like that?"
"Don't know," Reshma shrugged. "Boys do weird things to get attention."
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"No," Priya said thoughtfully. "Vikram looked genuinely scared. Like he understood something we didn't."
Reshma laughed. "You are watching him very closely!"
"I am just curious," Priya said. But the blush was still on her face.
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Her crush had made her more observant. She noticed—the three boys were different today. More serious, more united. Like they shared a massive secret.
What could it be?
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In the afternoon, all students were called to the Annual Day hall. Shridhar Sir—the head of the Art Department—stood with a list.
"Everyone has to participate," he said. "What are your talents?"
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Arjuna raised his hand immediately. "Sir, I can help with stage decoration."
"Great, Arjuna. I know your painting is excellent," Shridhar Sir wrote down his name.
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"I will handle the sound system, Sir," Kiran said. "I understand technical things."
"Good. And Vikram?"
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Vikram looked a bit uncertain. "I mean... Research? Maybe help write the program notes?"
"Alright then," Sir said, smiling.
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The next day, Arjuna started working on stage decoration. He was creating beautiful botanical art—creepers, flowers, leaves, all interwoven in complex designs.
Next to him, other students were making basic decorations—paper flowers, simple banners. Near Arjuna’s work, they looked very amateur.
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Shridhar Sir came and looked. "Arjuna, your work is amazing. But... maybe help others improve theirs instead of making them look bad?"
Arjuna blushed. "Sorry, Sir. I didn't think of it that way."
The other students laughed, but in good spirits. Everyone knew—Arjuna was a genius at art.
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In another corner, Kiran was testing the microphone.
"Hello, hello... Testing," he said into the mic.
Suddenly—Screech! A horrible feedback sound pierced the air!
Everyone covered their ears.
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Kiran looked embarrassed but recovered quickly. "That... that was intentional. Just to... wake everyone up."
The students burst out laughing. Everyone appreciated Kiran’s attempt to save face.
"Good job, Kiran!" someone shouted. "We are all awake now!"
Kiran, laughing in embarrassment, went back to fixing the wiring.
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Vikram’s Academic Approach
Vikram was writing the program notes. Pages and pages of detailed writing lay before him.
Shridhar Sir came to check. "Vikram, what have you written?"
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Vikram began reading excitedly. "The historical significance of our school's foundation, in relation to educational paradigms, within the context of socio-cultural shifts in the Indian education system..."
Sir stopped him. "Vikram, this is a school function, not a PhD thesis!"
Everyone around them laughed.
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Arjuna and Kiran were laughing at their friend. Vikram was always like this—scholarly and serious.
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Priya and Reshma were working nearby. Priya saw Vikram’s struggle.
She walked up to him. "Maybe you can help organize instead of writing?"
Vikram looked up. "Oh, Hi Priya. Good idea."
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She started organizing his scattered notes as he spoke. Her fingers sorted the pages, but her eyes often glanced at his face.
A little distance away, Arjuna and Kiran exchanged knowing looks. The chemistry was obvious to them.
"Our Vikram has no clue," Kiran whispered.
"He is too buried in books," Arjuna chuckled.
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The evening light spilled gold onto the Malnad road. The three friends walked on their familiar path—every stone, every tree, every turn known since childhood.
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But today, everything looked different. More alive. More intimate.
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"Today was crazy," Arjuna sighed with relief.
Kiran laughed. "We saved a tree, and then got put to work on school decoration!"
"Put that way, it sounds mad," Vikram said, adjusting his glasses.
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Silence. But a comfortable silence. The three were lost in their thoughts.
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"What do we do tomorrow?" Arjuna asked. "Breathing practice with plants again?"
Vikram nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe before experimenting, we should understand exactly what we can do."
"Hmm," Kiran added practically. "And in the meantime, no one should know we can hear trees scream."
"Agreed," they said in unison.
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"Vikram! Wait!"
They turned around. Priya was running towards them, holding a notebook.
"You forgot your book," she said, slightly out of breath.
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"Oh, thanks..." Vikram took the book, embarrassed. "I always forget things when I am worried."
"What were you worried about?" Priya asked curiously.
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Arjuna and Kiran tried to hide their smiles.
"Oh, we know what worries him..." Kiran said in a teasing voice.
"Hey!" Vikram turned to them, blushing red.
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Arjuna and Kiran started running down the road, laughing.
"Wait, you two!" Vikram started chasing them.
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Priya stood watching, with a smile. The friendship of the three, their laughter, their normalcy—but she knew, there was something else about them. Something special.
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Their laughter, the chase, the game of friendship continued down the road.
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The sun was setting behind the western hills. Its last rays fell on that ancient Mango tree in the schoolyard.
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The tree stood—firm, safe, alive. Birds were returning to their nests in its branches, the last chirps of the day. The leaves danced gently in the evening breeze.
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Its roots spread deep. Its branches touched the sky.
And its life—centuries of life—continued.
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Because three boys had learned to listen.
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Nature remained, safe, for another day.
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