"Katie, please climb down. It's okay. I don't want any more mangoes." Six-year-old Edwina's anxious shouts came from the ground to Kate, half a dozen mangoes already lying on a pile near her.
Kate stood on the branch of a massive mango tree situated to the far west of their family plot. She must have been almost 10 feet off the ground and she, being the older sister by a whole four years, was not deterred by little Edwina's shouts. She ignored them and continued climbing.
She had promised Edwina that she will give her the juiciest mango that she has ever eaten in her life, and Kate did not go back on her promises.
She had her eyes on a bunch of ripe mangoes dangling from one of the higher up branches. The mangoes swung low enough that if she moved three or four steps towards the right after climbing the next branch, her hands could reach them.
Climbing mango trees and guava trees was child's play for her by now. There was no tree in the world that she couldn't climb she thought a little cockily.
She held onto the main branch, her left foot solid on a lower branch and raised her right foot onto the smaller limb branching towards the right. She gripped a projection on the side for leverage and somehow managed to set her right foot on the targeted branch.
She let out a sigh of relief.
That was harder than she imagined. But it didn't matter, she liked new challenges.
She looked down at Edwina, staring worriedly, "Edwina get ready with the cloth. I'm going to pluck them and throw them onto the cloth one by one. You have to hold the cloth tightly to make sure that the mangoes don't touch the ground."
"Katie, please, I'm scared. Those mangoes are too far away. You don't have to get those. We already have so many."
"You don't have to be scared. It's just a couple of steps away. And look-" she held an arm out, "-these long hands will be able to grab those mangoes in no time. Besides, these ones are riper and sweeter than the ones down there." Even though Kate spoke confidently, she did take a peek at the mangoes in question just to be sure.
"Okay. If you're sure." Edwina still sounded distraught. "But be careful, Katie."
"Of course, I will be careful, kutti!" She smiled reassured at Edwina not certain if she could see her smile.
Kate took a deep breath and began to move. She first moved her right leg to the right, sliding a little and then dragged her left leg.
But if she had to move anymore, she will have to remove her left hand off the branch too.
She took a deep breath again and removed her left hand.
She wobbled a bit before balancing herself.
She precariously copied the first moves again -right leg first and then the left, right leg and then left, right then left.
Finally, after what seemed like running a marathon, but what was essentially four steps, she could reach the mangoes.
She smiled and plucked one.
"Edwina, come and stand below me, but a little to my front so that I can see you. I'm going to throw one."
Edwina stood, holding a cloth spread as wide as her little hands allowed, "Ready."
Kate threw it and it hit the cloth and bounced onto the ground.
Kate laughed, "That's okay. It happens."
Kate plucked the second one and did the same.
Soon she managed to pluck all the mangoes in the bunch but one.
It would be possible to pluck that one only if she took one more step, but the branch was thinning out and Kate did not know if it was worth taking the risk.
She thought for a moment and then decided to move ahead. Afterall what how bad could it be if she took just one more step.
She raised her right leg and set it on the branch.
With the confidence, she was about to lift her left leg when the branch gave out and she slipped.
She cried out in alarm and fell onto the ground on her elbows, a lower offshoot breaking her fall.
Edwina was shouting loud for help, fat tears streaming down her face.
Kate tried to get up and stopped as she felt a pain coursing through her right elbow.
Edwina saw her attempt to get up and rushed to her side, in alarm, "Katie, are you alright?"
Edwina's sobs turned to anger, "Don't lie, Katie. I saw your face. Where are you hurting?"
Before she could respond, her Appa and Mama came running, their faces etched with worry.
"What happened?" Milind Sharma asked looking at Kate.
They both looked at him, "Nothing happened, Appa!" Kate replied while Edwina loudly proclaimed, "Katie fell from the tree."
Kate shook her head knowing what was coming.
Her Appa loved her, and she knew there were few fathers like him who allowed their daughters to ride horses, learn shooting, climb trees and live their lives as they pleased.
But one hard and fast rule that Millind Sharma had was that they should not be careless.
"Katie, sometimes people act without thinking and they put themselves and others at risk. Never be careless! Always think about the consequences of your actions. Sometimes your careless action can hurt you and the ones who love you."
But she was surprised when he dropped next to Kate and inspected her hand.
Kate let out a yelp as he squeezed her joint and he looked at her.
"So, want to tell me what really happened?"
Kate's eyes started to tear up and she told him everything that happened.
Millind wiped away her tears and Mary came and consoled her as she finished her recount.
"Aww my poor baby. It's okay, Katie." Mary cooed in her ears.
Kate started full on sobbing hearing that, and she leaned forward into her Appa's arms feeling like a small child once again.
Edwina alarmed at Kate's crying walked to her Appa and tugged at his shirt, "Appa it's not Katie's fault. It's my fault. I asked her to pluck mangoes for me. That's why she climbed the tree."
Kate looked at Edwina in wonder, "You don't have to save me, kutti. You did warn me to stop. I didn't listen to you. It's my fault. I'm sorry."
"What's this my fault-your fault business here? No one is at fault." Mary spoke in a faux-serious turn.
"Mama is right. We have two beautiful daughters, and I love you both. I won't allow you to insult them, do you hear me?"
"Yes, Appa. We love you too." Kate and Edwina spoke, smiling sweetly.
"No love to Mama?" Mary asked trying to sound dejected when all she could feel was elation.
"We love you too, Mama!" They chanted in unison, giggling.
"I love you two, my sweet little troublemakers."
"Come on now, let's go inside." Millind gently picked Kate in his arms and Edwina seeing the opportunity asked her Mama to pick her up.
They walked away from the tree, talking and laughing, their hearts full and the mangoes laid there on the ground forgotten.
