The Girl Behind the Shadow

It was a chilly evening. A cold breeze whispered through the tree leaves, scattering fleeting shapes across the ground. The red shades of the sky dimmed as the sun set, giving way to shadows in the park. Aravind and Benoy were running towards the jogging path. Benoy wore a mischievous grin, while Aravind followed behind, looking annoyed.

"Why are we here, man?" Aravind asked, frowning.

Benoy smirked. "You see those girls jogging? One of them could be my soulmate."

Aravind stopped abruptly, raising an eyebrow. "This is the 'important business' you dragged me out for? To be your wingman?"

Benoy turned back and grabbed Aravind's shoulders. Aravind gave him a puzzled look.

"Yes, this is very important. It's about my future! Do you get it?" Benoy said, nodding earnestly.

Aravind groaned. "You and your stupid ideas have only ever brought trouble—*especially* for me." He sighed. "Let's go back home. It's late, and we can still catch the game if we leave now."

Benoy gave him a sly grin. "Just ten minutes. You don't have to do anything."

He grabbed Aravind and made him sit on a nearby bench, right by the jogging path.

"Five minutes," Aravind warned. "After that, I'm leaving. With or without you."

"Deal!" Benoy flashed a thumbs-up and sprinted away, leaving Aravind sulking on the bench.

The cool night breeze made Aravind shiver slightly. Streetlights flickered on, casting long shadows across the path. Aravind leaned back, letting the warm light behind him bring a small sense of comfort as it painted silhouettes of trees and passersby.

While fiddling with a dry leaf, Aravind overheard two girls talking behind him. At first, he ignored them, but then a soft, melodic voice caught his attention. Something stirred inside him. He stopped what he was doing and listened closely—not to the words but to the sound of her voice. It was smooth, playful, and filled with warmth.

He wanted to turn around but hesitated, afraid of seeming awkward. Instead, he stared at the ground and saw her contour stretched out before him. The lamplight cast a graceful silhouette—her ponytail bouncing slightly with every step.

The longer he listened, the more the voice and profile imprinted on his mind. Taking a deep breath, he finally summoned the courage to turn around. But when he did, she was gone. The only things left were the whispering wind and the shadows of trees swaying under the moonlight.

Startled, Aravind jumped to his feet and scanned the path. In the distance, a figure approached. His heart raced—but as it drew closer, his excitement melted into disappointment.

It was Benoy.

Benoy jogged over, grinning. "Alright, alright! I know I messed up. Let's go. The game's about to start."

Aravind, still searching for the mysterious girl, hesitated.

"What is it?" Benoy asked, noticing his distracted expression.

"Did you see the girls sitting behind me?" Aravind asked.

"Nope. Why?"

"I really liked her voice... It was... mesmerizing."

Benoy gave him a puzzled look. "What did she look like?"

Aravind shook his head. "I didn't see her. I only saw her shadow."

Benoy blinked. "Shadow? Seriously?"

Aravind nodded, his gaze lingering on the empty path.

Benoy chuckled. "It's dark now—she probably went home. Let's come back tomorrow."