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2 A Cherry Tree

I can read...
I can read...
There is a special cherry tree in Raki’s courtyard which is very dear to

him. Read the story and find out why?

Section-1

One day, when Raki was six, he walked home from the Mussoorie bazaar eating
cherries. They were a little sweet, a little sour. They were small bright red

cherries, all the way from the valley of Kashmir.

By the time Raki reached his Grandfather’s cottage, there were

three cherries left. ‘‘Have a cherry, Dada,’’ he said to his
Grandfather in the garden.

Grandfather took a cherry and Raki

promptly ate the other two. He kept
the last cherry stone in his mouth

for a long time, rolling it on his
tongue until the tang had

gone. Then, he placed the
stone on the palm of his

hand and studied it.

‘‘Are cherry stones lucky?’’

he asked. ‘‘Of course,’’
said Grandfather.

‘‘Then I’ll keep it.’’

‘‘Nothing is lucky if you

put it away. You must
make it work for you.’’

promptly — immediately

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