Apair of mischievous eyes peered from behind the large oak tree. Their owner was currently hiding during a game of hide and seek.

“Mariam will never find me here,” Maaz comforted himself among the long, widespread roots of the magnificent oak tree.

This oak was very special. When Maaz’s father was little, Maaz’s grandfather had planted the seed of this tree. Both of them cared for the baby tree and nurtured it, gradually shaping this magnificent treasure. The tree was a place where Maaz’s father and Dada Jan shared many cherished moments. Maaz was very attached to the tree, too. He had named the tree Oak. To him, Oak was a sanctuary where he could read for hours, or play all day, he even talked to the tree, venting out his feelings.

“Ahaa!” Mariam’s loud voice broke the silence, “Found you!”

Maaz reluctantly came out. Before he could have his turn, their mother called them to help set up the tea.

It was a routine to have tea under the shade of the oak tree. As baba spread the charpai, the rest of the family came to sit down and enjoy tea together.

But the peace didn’t last long. When the happy family settled around the table for the breakfast, the bell rang. Baba sighed and got up to open the door. A few men were waiting with impatience. Maaz didn’t like the look of them. They talked pretty seriously, showing Baba a paper. When Baba tried to argue, he was silenced.

When Baba returned, his face was troubled. “I hate to say this, but … those men were here to tell us that the chief wants to cut down Oak,” he explained reluctantly. “Apparently, it’s ‘encroaching’ too close to the village path and could pose a danger if it grows further.”

The kids gasped, horrified. “Nooo!” they shouted in unison.

Dada Jan scowled. Ammi rolled up her sleeves and headed to give those men a piece of her mind. Dadi Jan, Maaz and Mariam tagged along.

Their mother and Dadi Jan argued with them, with the kids nodding and egging them on, frequently joining in the conversation. But the men had experienced this scenario more than once, and ended the debate, stating that they would return in a few days to carry out the orders.

Disheartened, the family returned inside, unsure of what would happen to their beloved Oak.

Maaz was thinking for a solution. “I won’t let them cut the tree!”

Mariam’s eyes shone with hope “Yeah! We can join all our friends and work to save Oak!”

Together, they united their friends and formed ‘The Tree Guardians’ club. They aimed to grow and enlarge their society, and get the message out to others.

They began their first day by an oath to save and protect all trees. They spent their first hour making posters. Then each of the guardians went separate ways, showed and displayed their posters from door to door, to the local shops, to the park, and asking as many children and adults as they could to join them in their special cause. They gathered a lot of audience and attention. Almost everyone was interested.

Later that day, they all united under the meeting venue, Oak. The Tree Guardians came at the front.

“Thank you for coming here. There is heartbreaking news we have to tell you. The beautiful treasure of nature under which you are sitting is going to be cut down next week,” Maaz’s words were met with gasps of horror. Continuing, he said, “That’s why we called all of you. We have to save this tree, if you are all with us, we can plan accordingly to save this blessing of nature.”

Everyone was passionate to save the tree and agreed swiftly.

The week went in anguish and the day of dread came quickly. The woodcutter, along with the two men and the village chief, arrived to cut down the tree and the children, united, stood all around it to defend it.

Then Maaz quickly took out a whistle and blew it. Immediately, Maaz and Mariam’s parents and grandparents came to their aid and joined the ring around the tree. Meanwhile, the village children zipped through the streets, raced through the fields and came to the oak tree. They formed more and more layers of human shield, protecting the tree. There were shopkeepers, the uncle who worked at the park, parents of the children and the elderly. The number of adults who had come to support made the children teary-eyed.

The wood-cutter called out, “You kids, clear out! Or else ….”

But Maaz intervened, “Or else we’ll report you! Don’t you dare even touch our tree’s bark.”

The man was stunned into silence. He opened his mouth again, but Huzaifa spoke up, “Don’t you understand? Trees purify the air we breathe. Without them, there we’ll feel lack of freshness around us.”

“This tree hasn’t harmed anyone — in fact, it’s been a source of comfort. In the scorching summer, so many people rest under its cool shade right here outside our house. No one has ever had a complaint,” Dadi Jan said.

“What I see is that you want to clear the road just to make it look nice and show off your work, hoping to gain people’s approval. But in doing this, you’ve completely forgotten about the environment,” Ammi Jan said.

The men looked toward their chief, waiting for his response. The village chief felt a pang of shame in front of everyone, but also a sense of clarity, as though he was beginning to understand his mistake.

Regaining his composure, he finally spoke. “You’re right,” he admitted. “I should have considered this perspective before making such a harmful decision.”

It was a moment of relief and joy for everyone, as no one had expected the village chief to truly grasp the gravity of the matter. But a miracle had happened. The chief’s heart had softened, and he now saw the wisdom in the words of the young. The village was saved from further harm, and together, young and old promised to work as one to keep it safe and thriving.

The kids were officially declared “The Tree Guardians” by the chief and all the villagers. They officially started their group work for preserving and growing more trees. Their village attracted popularity for sustainability, and the young and motivated individuals who took responsibility for the environmental crisis and worked to save it.

Protecting trees isn’t just protecting the environment, but protecting ourselves, the people around us and the planet. Our act of sowing a seed may be small and may require little effort, but impacts the environment and us. And who knows, maybe our tree is the provider of oxygen to someone who desperately needs it tomorrow.

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 23th, 2024