THE CHERRY TREES ---RAM KUMAR

'The cherry trees' by Ram kumar is a story that deals with different issues . At one level , it contrasts city life to being in the lap of nature . It also deals with the issue of deforestation and the necessity to preserve nature and at another symbolic level , it deals with the issue of early marriage of girls . The narrator of the story is a boy who is much excited to enter his new house that had an orchard of cherry trees . The children , along with their elder sister make merry . In fact , the elder sister is so happy initially of her stars seem to be close to her at night time . There is soon discussion of her marriage , which upsets her as she is unhappy with the decision of her parents to get her married at such a young age .
The children's idyllic haven is soon spoilt with the entry of the contractor , who wishes to pluck all the cherries . The children are upset with their freedom to pluckcherries being curbed . However , there is no way they can protest as the house does not belong to them . They are not only silent spectators to the cartons of cherries being taken away but also to the killing of a bird in the process . Their sister feels it is as much a sin a pluck fruits and flowers as it it to kill animals .
The narrator looks out of the window and finds the stars shining brightly in the sky because it was a moonless light . His sister , however , is disturbed and does not notice the stars . Her mind is preoccupied with the fact that her parents were going to get her married soon . The writer makes an interesting comparison of the marriage of young girl against her wishes to the plucking of unripe cherries . The killing of the bird is also symbolic of the freedom of the girl which is likely to be curbed after marriage . The varied moods of the girl are reflected in the sighting or not sighting of the stars .