Weeks passed. The neem tree slowly grew new leaves—bright green, like tiny flags of victory. Birds returned to its branches. The village elders smiled and said, "The tree is healing."

Fatima nodded. "Let's ask the class."

Fatima sat beside him, sketching the tree in her notebook. Under the drawing, she wrote: "Even one small act can make a difference. This is the real lesson."

In the small village of Puranagar, nine-year-old Ravi loved two things more than anything else: his NCERT science textbook and the giant neem tree behind the abandoned railway station.

"Then let's not just read about it," Mrs. Desai said. "Let's do something."

"Who can tell me how trees help the soil?" she asked.