At the old ruined temple, the three friends sat with eyes closed.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2l7a2jeyzt
Arjuna’s face was filled with absolute peace. His breathing was slow, deep. A multi-colored aura danced softly around him.
He felt it—he was in the world of plants. The vibration of every leaf, the touch of every root, the fragrance of every flower—everything resonated within him.
He was one with the plants. Their breath was his breath. Their life was his life.
Bliss. Peace. Completeness.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksvzqF9uz6
Vikram’s face was different. There was tension on his forehead. Even though his eyes were closed, his pupils moved rapidly.
He saw...
A dense forest. Ancient, sacred. Centuries-old trees touching the sky. Green, lush, alive.
Then... sound. A terrible, mechanical noise.
Huge machines. Bulldozers. Cranes. They were tearing into the forest.
Trees were falling. Centuries of life, destroyed in a moment. The forest was vanishing. Destruction. Destruction. Destruction.
Vikram’s body began to tremble. Agony was etched on his face.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFXF98ELLQ
Kiran was experiencing something else entirely.
Heat in his chest. Fire in his head. Even in the cool morning air, he felt feverish.
Sweat trickled down his forehead like beads. He touched his chest. Hot. Burning.
What is happening? What is this?
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsLGWzCrbp
Arjuna opened his eyes first. The lingering effect of peace was still on his face. "That... that was amazing."
Vikram opened his eyes, but his face was worried. "I saw forests being destroyed. Trees falling..."
Kiran opened his eyes and immediately wiped his forehead. "I felt so hot. Like a fever, but different."
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57pV8vptZZ
They stood up and walked towards their homes, dismissing the profound experience as something ordinary. They didn't realize—they had successfully established 'Vanaspati Samvad' (Plant Communication). Their powers had awakened.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ276cW4XJts
---
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65qInGU3id
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aO2KdEXsw
The school ground was bustling with noise. The Annual Day was next week—everyone was busy with preparations.
The three friends—Arjun, Kiran, Vikram—stood in a corner, watching.
They walked towards the open-air theatre behind the school. A natural stage—shaded by trees, open to the sky.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFPNlBwJjU
But there was a problem.
Mallappa Sir and a few other teachers were discussing something under a large tree.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjLDBhtisO
"Look at that branch," Mallappa Sir pointed up. "It completely obstructs the stage view. The parents sitting here won't see anything."
"So, that branch must be cut," Mallappa Sir decided.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6C4usU89wY
The three boys looked at the tree. It was a massive, ancient Mango tree. Centuries old. Its branches spread wide, offering cool shade.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JkUfXq9hE
A while later, a man arrived. Muniyappa, the village woodcutter. He carried a chainsaw, ropes, and a ladder.
"Where to cut, Master-ji?"
"That big branch," Sir pointed. "Cut it completely."
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbndWeIvj8
Muniyappa placed his ladder against the trunk and checked his chainsaw.
"That's a huge branch," Kiran muttered.
"Yeah," Vikram felt uneasy. "Cutting that much doesn't feel right."
Arjuna watched the tree silently. He felt something. A pull towards the tree. But he didn't understand why.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNsLC0DvX7
Muniyappa started his chainsaw. The mechanical roar filled the school ground.
He began to climb the ladder.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAnUVAC09i
Arjuna’s heart started pounding. Something was wrong. Something terrible was about to happen.
But what?
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmJuqI7mcs
Muniyappa reached the branch. He touched the chainsaw to the bark, marking the cut.
"Careful!" Mallappa Sir shouted. "Stand back, children!"
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfo719UANh
Muniyappa pressed the sharp teeth of the chainsaw against the wood.
All three boys felt it at the same time.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTFdlpKp4h
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoBXee4dQp
Not a scream of words. Not a scream of sound. But a scream nonetheless.
A scream of agony. Of pain. Of fear.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpf63Fj7YF
Arjuna clutched his head. "Can you hear that?"
Vikram flinched, his face turning pale. "It... It's screaming!"
Kiran panicked, his eyes widening. "The tree is in pain!"
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNbCO48TKv
The tree’s agony echoed in their minds. Every touch of the chainsaw felt like a wound on their own bodies.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfywq4pqiC
"Stop! Stop!" Arjuna screamed, running towards Muniyappa.
"Please stop!" Vikram joined in, raising his hands.
"You are hurting the tree!" Kiran yelled.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkFfxlJuyM
Muniyappa stopped the saw and looked down. "What happened, kids?"
"You are hurting it!" Arjuna said desperately.
Muniyappa looked confused. "It's just a tree, son. It doesn't feel pain."
"No! It does!" Vikram said. "We can hear it!"
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeiTjMLrjW
Mallappa Sir intervened. "Go to your classes. This is work for adults."
The scream in their minds wasn't fading. Instead, it was intensifying.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJJz9XM5Tn
---
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKQQbPsSn2
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmz079jNpb
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDxXGZY4Ms
Vikram pulled the other two aside.
"Mallappa Sir won't believe us," he said quickly. "But the Biology Sir might listen. I'll run and get him."
Vikram sprinted towards the school building.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6eXWEcJkO
Arjuna and Kiran turned back to the tree. Muniyappa was preparing to climb again.
The tree's agony intensified. It knew—its death was near.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAd4LcU1lxJ
Arjuna suddenly remembered. The Appiko Movement. He had read about it in school—in Karnataka, people hugged trees to save them. Like the Chipko movement.
"The adults won't listen," he said softly. "So I will stop them myself."
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0dNIqcgu7
Arjuna ran. Straight towards the tree trunk. Directly under that massive branch.
"Arjun! What are you doing?" Kiran shouted.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfMwHsuYxe
Arjuna didn't stop. He reached the base of the tree and lay down on the ground. Exactly where the branch would fall.
He wrapped his arms around the tree trunk.
A Human Shield. A boy protecting a tree.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCe1LLlo8HQ
"Arjun, this is dangerous!" Kiran rushed to him.
"I won't move," Arjuna said firmly. "I won't let this tree die."
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1VTzwRYIX
Kiran looked at his best friend. Torn between fear and loyalty. But he knew—he couldn't leave Arjuna alone.
He stood right next to the tree. He didn't leave.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw25OO3ZKy
"He is serious!" Kiran shouted at Muniyappa. "Please stop!"
A crowd began to gather. Muniyappa climbed down. "What are you doing, boy? Get up! It's dangerous!"
"I won't let you kill this tree," Arjuna said, hugging the tree tighter.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcR4Tm8U8u
Mallappa Sir arrived, angry. "Arjun! Get up right now! This is indiscipline!"
But Arjuna didn't move. The tree's agony echoed in his mind. Its fear, its pain. He felt it was his duty to protect it.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DU9xGo3iq
Muniyappa got frustrated. "I have to finish the work. Get up, or I'll start the machine!"
Arjuna didn't move. Determination on his face, but fear in his eyes.
Muniyappa raised his chainsaw in anger, thinking the noise would scare the boy away.
He started the chainsaw.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25UBne6SnF
The mechanical roar filled the air.
Arjuna—clinging to the tree trunk. Right in the drop zone.
Kiran—screaming "Stop!", his voice lost in the noise.
Muniyappa’s hand—on the trigger.
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkX8o0gEGCp
Time seemed to stand still
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSlnjqgEj1
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU5kUFu5X4
128Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWKPRYIiOJ
and then Add to home screen.