“Hello, dear! How are you? Oh, so you’re in a rush, are you? That’s all right. Take care of yourself!” Bholu wished he could wave and say this to the student passing by.

But he couldn’t. How could he? Have you ever seen a tree waving at someone? No, but you might have seen one standing in the centre of a park, its branches spread out and green leaves shining in the sunlight, as though it were smiling at you.

Meet Bholu, a deodar tree growing somewhere in Punjab. An old man planted him around 50 years ago and cared for him when he was young. Bholu no longer remembers the man’s name, but he is grateful to him for giving him a chance to grow. Every day, he makes a prayer for the old man and hopes to meet him again one day.

Over the years, Bholu has watched the world change around him. Every morning, he greets passers-by in his heart. At noon, especially in summer, people come to rest beneath his widespread branches, grateful for the cool shade.

Meet Bholu, a tree with a message for us all: cherish nature and keep Pakistan green!

In the afternoon, children gather to play around him, filling the air with laughter and shouts. Bholu loves the chatter and excitement, and every winter, he misses the children who stay away until the warmer days’ return.

On weekends, families often spread picnic mats beneath his branches, bringing fruits and snacks to enjoy in his shade. Bholu loves being part of their happy moments. However, not every visitor treats him and his surroundings with care. Some people leave wrappers, plastic bags and leftover food scattered around his trunk. Occasionally, a kind-hearted visitor picks up the rubbish, but much of it remains there for months.

Once, someone poured leftover gravy near his trunk. The waste attracted insects and caused an infection that took days to heal. Bholu was hurt, but what saddened him even more was the thought that people could enjoy the shade and comfort he offered without caring about what they did to the place they left behind.

“I wish they understood,” he often thought. “I give them shade, shelter and a place to relax. Why can’t they keep my home clean?”

Bholu felt sad that people were so careless about nature, despite many knowing that trees help make the world a better place. They provide shade on hot days, offer shelter to birds and give people a peaceful place to rest. Trees are important for cleaner air and a healthier environment.

One afternoon, a boy sat beneath Bholu’s branches, looking miserable.

“I don’t know what to do. I failed my exam! How am I going to face my parents? I’m a loser, a total failure,” he cried. He repeated the same words for almost half an hour.

Bholu felt the boy’s pain. He wished he could comfort him and tell him that one bad result did not define his future. He also wished the boy would look around and notice the beauty and peace of the place where he sat.

A gentle breeze rustled Bholu’s leaves. The boy looked up at the branches swaying above him. For a moment, he stopped worrying and listened to the birds chirping nearby. He noticed the cool shade, the fresh air and the sunlight filtering through the leaves. Gradually, he began to feel calmer.

As he got up to leave, he noticed a plastic bottle and several wrappers lying beside the trunk. He picked them up and carried them to a nearby bin.

Bholu felt as though someone had given him a little gift.

The next day, the boy returned. This time, he brought a small bag and collected the litter scattered around Bholu. He also encouraged a few children playing nearby to put their wrappers in the bin instead of throwing them on the ground.

“Bholu gives us such a lovely place to play,” he told them. “The least we can do is keep it clean.”

The children agreed. Soon, they began reminding other visitors not to litter. Some families even started carrying their rubbish home when they could not find a bin nearby.

The boy, meanwhile, began to understand that just as he could learn from his mistakes and improve in his studies, people could change their habits to make the world a better place. He still had to work harder for his next exam, but he no longer believed that one failure made him a failure as a person.

Bholu was happy to see the change. He had always welcomed everyone who came to rest beneath his branches, but now some of his visitors were beginning to care for him in return.

Perhaps this is a lesson we all need to learn. Trees give us shade, help clean the air, support wildlife and make our surroundings healthier and more beautiful. Yet, they cannot protect themselves from our careless acts. It is our responsibility to look after them, keep our parks and green spaces clean and avoid wasting or damaging the natural resources around us.

Green initiatives remind us of the importance of protecting and increasing our green spaces. But planting trees is only part of the job. We must also nurture them, protect existing trees and keep the places around them free of litter.

Bholu has stood in the same place for 50 years, quietly giving so much to everyone around him. Perhaps it is time we gave something back. After all, a greener Pakistan does not depend on trees alone; it depends on people who care enough to protect the environment.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 24th, 2026