Date: 04/04/2023 Shift: Q. No: 96

Though the house and grounds belonged to my grandparents, the magnificent old banyan tree was mine – chiefly because Grandfather, at sixty five, could no longer climb it.

Its spreading branches, which hung to the ground and took root again, forming a number of twisting passages, gave me endless pleasure. Among them were squirrels and snails and butterflies. The tree was older than the house, older than grandfather. As old as Dehra Dun itself. I could hide myself in its branches, behind thick green leaves and spy on the world below.

My first friend was a small squirrel. At first he seemed to resent my invasion of privacy. But when he found that I did not arm myself with a catapult, he became friendly and when I started bringing pieces of cake and biscuit he grew quite bold and was soon taking food from my hand. Before long, he was delving into my pockets and helping himself to whatever he could find.