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Extract from the Story
They knew it was spring when the wild duck flew north again, to Siberia. Early in the morning, when he got up to chop wood and light a fire, Rakesh saw the V-shaped formation streaming northward, the calls of the birds carrying clearly through the thin mountain air.
One morning in the garden he bent to pick up what he thought was a small twig and found to his surprise that it was well rooted. He stared at it for a moment, then ran to fetch Grandfather, calling, ‘Dada, come and look, the cherry tree has come up!’
‘What cherry tree?’ asked Grandfather, who had forgotten about it. ‘The seed we planted last year—look, it’s come up!’
Rakesh went down on his haunches , while Grandfather bent almost double and peered down at the tiny tree. It was about four inches high.
‘Yes, it’s a cherry tree,’ said Grandfather. ‘You should water it now and then.’
Rakesh ran indoors and came back with a bucket of water.
‘Don’t drown it!’ said Grandfather.
Rakesh gave it a sprinkling and circled it with pebbles.
‘What are the pebbles for?’ asked Grandfather.
‘For privacy,’ said Rakesh.
One morning in the garden he bent to pick up what he thought was a small twig and found to his surprise that it was well rooted. He stared at it for a moment, then ran to fetch Grandfather, calling, ‘Dada, come and look, the cherry tree has come up!’
‘What cherry tree?’ asked Grandfather, who had forgotten about it. ‘The seed we planted last year—look, it’s come up!’
Rakesh went down on his haunches , while Grandfather bent almost double and peered down at the tiny tree. It was about four inches high.
‘Yes, it’s a cherry tree,’ said Grandfather. ‘You should water it now and then.’
Rakesh ran indoors and came back with a bucket of water.
‘Don’t drown it!’ said Grandfather.
Rakesh gave it a sprinkling and circled it with pebbles.
‘What are the pebbles for?’ asked Grandfather.
‘For privacy,’ said Rakesh.
Summary in Bullet Points
- Rakesh almost mistakes the plant for a twig. The first visible result of the seed is tiny.
- Grandfather has forgotten the planting too. This makes the discovery a shared surprise.
- Care now becomes deliberate. Rakesh waters the plant and circles it with pebbles — joking that the pebbles are “for privacy.”
NCERT Questions (from the Textbook)
Let us Think and Reflect
Let us Think and Reflect
Complete suitably: Rakesh’s decision to plant the seed shows that ________.
How to answer:
Use the conversation immediately before the planting.
View Answer
Rakesh’s decision to plant the seed shows that he respects and values his grandfather’s advice and is willing to learn from him .
Board Pattern
Questions Mapped to Exam Format
Short Answer
2 marks
Why is Rakesh’s discovery of the cherry shoot surprising?
2 Marks
How to answer:
Give the key point and one relevant detail from this section.
View Answer
Answer: He had forgotten the planted seed and initially thought the tiny shoot was only a twig. Finding it rooted shows that the seed had been growing quietly.
Longer Short Answer
3 marks
What does the pebble incident reveal about Rakesh?
3 Marks
How to answer:
Explain the idea and connect it with the story’s development.
View Answer
Answer: It shows his childish imagination and affection. He treats the tiny tree almost like a living companion that deserves its own protected space and 'privacy'.
