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Meera's Tulsi Plant

Story

Every evening, just before dinner, Meera watered the tulsi plant in their small courtyard.

It stood in an old clay pot near the doorway, its leaves green and fragrant in the evening air.

"Why do we water it every single day, Amma?" Meera asked one evening, feeling a little tired of the routine.

"Because it needs us every day," said Amma. "Not just sometimes."

Meera looked at the plant. It looked the same as yesterday. The same as the day before.

"It's not even growing, Amma. I don't see any difference."

Amma smiled and crouched beside her. "Some growing happens where our eyes can't see it. Underneath, in the roots."

That night, Meera forgot to water the tulsi. She was busy, and the evening slipped by quickly.

The next morning, she noticed the leaves looked a little tired, drooping slightly toward the soil.

"Oh no," Meera said softly. "I'm sorry, tulsi."

She filled her little brass lota with water and poured it gently around the base of the plant.

By evening, the leaves had lifted again, standing a little straighter, a little greener.

"See?" said Amma. "It noticed you came back."

Meera sat beside the tulsi as the evening lamp was lit nearby. She touched one soft leaf gently.

"I won't forget again," she whispered.

And every evening after that, just before dinner, Meera watered her tulsi plant, watching it grow a little stronger, a little taller, with each quiet day that passed.

Worksheet

MCQs

  1. What plant does Meera care for? a) Mango tree b) Tulsi plant c) Rose bush d) Neem tree
  2. Where does Meera water the plant? a) In the kitchen b) In the courtyard c) On the rooftop d) At the temple
  3. What happens when Meera forgets to water it one night? a) The plant dies b) The leaves droop slightly c) Nothing changes d) It grows taller
  4. What does Amma say about growth? a) It only happens fast b) It can happen where we can't see it c) It never happens d) It happens by itself
  5. What does Meera use to water the plant? a) A bucket b) A brass lota c) A bottle d) A cup

True/False

  1. Meera waters the tulsi plant every evening before dinner. (___)
  2. The tulsi plant looks very different every single day. (___)
  3. Meera forgets to water the plant one night. (___)
  4. The leaves droop slightly after she forgets to water it. (___)
  5. Meera decides she won't forget to water it again. (___)

Fill in the Blanks

  1. Meera waters the tulsi plant every evening before _______.
  2. The tulsi sat in an old _______ pot near the doorway.
  3. Amma said some growing happens where our eyes _______ see it.
  4. Meera filled her brass _______ with water.
  5. By evening, the leaves had _______ again, standing straighter.

Short Answer Questions

  1. Why did Meera think watering the plant every day didn't matter?
  2. What happened the one night she forgot to water it?
  3. What did Meera learn about caring for something daily?

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