The story starts with the narrator and his Grandfather sitting on the veranda steps when the narrator notices a tendril (a climbing plant) creeping towards the Grandfather. After twenty minutes the tendril crosses the step and touches Grandfather’s feet.
The narrator believes there is a scientific explanation to the plant’s behavior. Whenever Grandfather joined the narrator in the garden, the garden became a happy place. The Grandfather served many years in the Indian Forest Service so he liked trees and plants. After his retirement he built a bungalow on the outer area of Dehradun. He planted trees like lime, mango, orange and guava around the house. The Doon valley was fertile, so all the trees grew tall and strong.
An old peepul tree broke through the walls of an abandoned outhouse. Peepul trees have broadchested trunk and slim-waisted leaves that spin like tops which attract our attention and invites us into their shade. Grandmother wanted to cut down the peepul tree but Grandfather decided not to as he thought he could build another outhouse.
Grandmother was not against trees but fond of growing flowers. She ordered seeds and Grandfather helped her out in gardening. Grandfather helped her not because he liked flower garden but he liked watching butterflies attracted towards the flowers.
Grandfather, during the rains, would walk into the jungle beyond the river-bed with saplings and cuttings, which he would plant in the forest. The Narrator questioned Grandfather that no one would come there. Grandfather replied that he was planting them for the forest and for the animals and birds for more food and shelter. He also explained that trees are required to keep the desert away, to attract rain, to prevent the banks of rivers from being washed away, for fruits and flowers.
The Narrator helped Grandfather with enthusiasm while Grandfather taught the narrator a George Morris poem. Grandfather said trees would start to walk again like they did earlier until some busybody (a mischief) cast a spell on them.
The narrator and Grandfather saw an island that was dry in summer but flooded during rains. Grandfather saw a small mango tree growing there and decided to plant tamarind, laburnum and coral tree saplings on the island.
The narrator spent the monsoon season with his Grandparents, where he saw life and greenness brought by the rains. He also saw broad-leaved vines, peepul trees taking root in the ceiling, a mango sprout on the window-sill. During Second World War , the narrator went to live with his father in Delhi. After two or three years he left for England and returned to India after several years. When he returned to Dehradun after many years, he walked towards the river bed. He was surprised to see the spectacular (amazing) view of the island where they had planted coral tree saplings. He could hear squirrels and koel asking him who he was ?. The narrator could see that the trees recognized him and came nearer. He thought of what his Grandfather had said, “Trees are walking again”.
