In a sleepy town, every May, the Indian laburnum bush erupts in glory, displaying its yellow mellow beauty. This phenomenon is a magnificent incongruity in the space where man tries to cling to a make-believe permanence, wrenched from him by death. The community comes together every Easter week to spruce up headstones and remove the intruding natural growth. The laburnum bush only abides there, owning the seasons and playing out a pantomime of beauty and baldness on the tree. The story begins with a woman named Lentina who admired the laburnum bushes for their femininity. She planted the bushes in her garden, hoping they would survive. However, the bushes withered and died due to a deadly DDT concoction. Lentina’s intense yearning for the laburnum tree overpowered her, and her husband passed away quietly. On the funeral day, Lentina surprised everyone by announcing she would accompany her husband on his last journey.
Lentina, a widow, decides to have a laburnum tree planted on her grave instead of a headstone. She confides in her widower, Mapu, who is known as Babu, who agrees to help her find a spot for her burial. Lentina decides to plant the tree while she is still alive to ensure the desired results.
Babu, Lentina’s son-in-law, agrees to help her plant the tree. They wait until spring to plant the tree. Babu discusses reserving a plot in the cemetery with his son-in-law, who is puzzled by the morbid subject. Babu informs his mistress about the request, and Lentina must decide whether to sign on the application form or devise another ploy to keep the applicant’s identity secret.
Lentina remembers a conversation she had with her husband about real estate, where he advised going for inconspicuous plots with future prospects. She abandons her original idea of buying a plot in the already-congested cemetery and invites Babu to examine the direction of the cemetery’s expansion.
Lentina is considering acquiring land adjacent to her late husband’s friend’s grave. Babu, her trusted friend, suggests the land adjoining the southern boundary. Lentina, however, is hesitant, fearing that time will answer her question. Eventually, she meets Khalong, the son of her late husband’s friend, who is in financial trouble due to his illness. Lentina offers to sell the land to Khalong, but he refuses, stating that she has a selfish motive. Lentina agrees, and Babu witnesses the deal. Khalong arrives with the agreement, and the deal is completed without issue. Lentina orders Babu to build a temporary boundary fence, but her sons are upset about the plan. Lentina tries to pacify them by avoiding burdening them with tasks she and Babu can handle. However, the elder daughter-in-law accuses Lentina of putting too much trust in a servant and reveals an argument between her two daughters-in-law about who should pay for the funeral expenses. Everyone, the younger daughter-in-law, believes they will save money on a grand headstone for the old man.
Lentina acquired a plot of land adjacent to a cemetery and was visited by members of the Town Committee. She had drawn up a legal document stating that she would donate the land to the Town Committee if they agreed to manage it according to her terms. The Town Committee agreed, and Lentina was given the first choice to choose her plot.
Lentina and her sons and their wives visited the new cemetery, where she asked for a place to be buried where a laburnum tree would bloom every May. The laburnum tree grew and Lentina wondered if the saplings would survive. However, the laburnum trees continued to bloom, and Lentina was relieved that her plants were doing well. Babu, her faithful friend, brought news about her treasured plants, which Lentina had been unable to see.
Lentina, a woman who had been ill for a while, fell seriously ill and fell ill during winter. Babu, her husband, remained calm and steadfast during the crisis, standing guard outside the door to keep relatives and friends away. Lentina remained amiable and sharp, and her sons began to ask for her advice on business and family matters. In the year of Lentina’s recovery, a laburnum tree on her plot flourished, producing a small sprig of yellow blossoms. Babu was hesitant to tell Lentina about this, but he knew that the next season’s flowering would be the best time. This led to a bond of common humanity between Lentina and Babu.
By the new year, Lentina showed signs of fatigue and was constantly watched by her family. She wanted to be taken out in the car twice a week, accompanied by her maid. However, she remained quiet and did not respond to any comments. Babu approached her door one day and assured her that he was keeping a close watch on the plants and that they would bloom this season.
Lentina, a woman who cherished a single wish for a laburnum tree to bloom, was disappointed when she never saw any signs of flowers. However, one day, her little laburnum tree was awash with buttery-yellow blossoms. The driver and the maid, Lentina and Babu, were surprised to find the tree was awash with flowers. Lentina and Babu went to the park, but the town was quiet. Lentina stayed in her room for most of the week, refusing to go out. The next morning, the maid brought tea to Lentina, but she noticed a stiffness in her body and an unusual pallor on her face. The elder son called the others, but Babu was crying. The doctor pronounced that Lentina had died in her sleep. The story ends with the laburnum tree blooming in perfect co-existence in the town every May, fulfilling the woman’s wish.
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