The Mango Tree Near My Office

The lone mango tree near my office is on the border abutting the race course in Mahalaxmi. Nobody knew which great soul planted it and when. It has grown big enough to take care of itself and give shelter to people. It neither belonged to anyone nor does anyone belong to it. It stands there tall as ever facing the brunt of all three seasons. Nobody cared to either look at it or think about it even for a second except at times of 'need'. People took shelter in its shade when the sun is fierce on them. There are some who nailed it mercilessly to put up their sign board. There are some others who plucked its leaves to ornate their homes on auspicious occasions at times breaking its branches mercilessly in the process. There were car owners who vied to park their high-end cars in its shade. 

The tree never spoke a word or expressed its pain or sorrow or happiness on any of the above occasions. It just stood still bearing everything and observing all in silence. It had no one to go and complain; no one to approach and express its anguish; no one to share its sorrow; all those that were brought about by people who wanted to extract something or the other from it.

All that it knew was to give shelter and fruits once it grew up irrespective of how people treated it. It has no hard feelings in its mind though by structure its trunk and branches were hard. Scores of people took advantage of its presence though they didn't care about it. 

As it started flowering after the cold winter spell and the flowers developed into small fruits, people started noticing and acknowledging its presence. As said, till then there was not a soul who cared about it. Suddenly there were many who were looking at the developing fruits and the tree as if they owned it. Each one wanted to claim stake of the fruits as though they were the ones who planted, watered and grew it. The tree as usual is unmindful of any of them or their thoughts. It just bore fruit and was not really concerned.

The real drama started unfolding as the fruits grew in size. There were some who pelted stones, others who used a long pole, yet some others who climbed up; all with the greed for enjoying the fruits.  In no time, the tree was swept clean of its fruits. None of the people who enjoyed the fruits had the courtesy or gratitude to thank neither the tree nor the unknown selfless samaritan who planted it long ago.

The tree is not agitated, it continues to stand tall, give shade and fruits season after season irrespective of how people treated it. It is free to live its life till the next season starts as no one would disturb it till then.

People may not be grateful for the help they receive but one should do not lose his/her original nature of helping them. After all, stones are pelted only at a tree that has fruits even if it is not cared-for at other times.