The Mystery of Shadows

Nestled among the mountains of Uttarakhand was a small village called Bhangarhi. Calm, lush, and full of greenery, this village was famous for one peculiar thing – no one stepped outside after dark.

The locals said there was a "shadow" – a presence that only appeared at night, and whoever saw it was never seen again. The elders called it superstition, but the younger generation lived in fear.

The Beginning

17-year-old Arya arrived in the village with her parents. Her father had been appointed as a teacher at the government school in the village.

Arya loved the hills. She would spend her days roaming the woods, clicking pictures of trees and playing with the local children. But one thing kept bothering her – the eerie silence that took over the village after 6 PM.

"Why does everyone go inside so early?" she asked her mother one evening.

Her mother smiled faintly, “It’s tradition, beta. Nights fall quickly in the hills.”

But Arya wasn’t convinced. One night, after everyone had fallen asleep, she quietly slipped out of the house.

First Encounter with the Shadow

Outside, it was pitch dark. The rustling wind and whispering trees gave an eerie chill. Then, she felt as if someone was walking beside her shadow.

She turned around — there was no one.

But as she turned back, a dim, floating shadow appeared in front of her. Arya froze. The shadow did nothing, just stood there — still, and silent.

Terrified, Arya ran back home and bolted the door shut.

A Mysterious Message

The next morning, she found an old envelope at her doorstep. On it, only one line was written:

"You are the one she is searching for..."

Arya shivered. Who left this? And who was “she”?

She rushed to the home of the village’s oldest woman – Bhagirathi Dadi, known by all as the village’s wise elder.

Dadi listened carefully, then looked at Arya with grave eyes and said,

“Now that you’ve seen her, you can’t stay away from this anymore.”

The Truth Unfolds

Dadi revealed a story buried in time. 50 years ago, a young girl named shadow had lived in this village. Her stepmother killed her one night.

Why?

Because shadow had a gift — she could see the future.

One day, shadow warned her stepmother that her secrets would be exposed. That night… she was never seen again.

Since then, a shadow had roamed the village, searching for someone.

Arya’s Discovery

Arya was determined to learn more. She visited the old village temple, studied ancient carvings and records. One image caught her attention — a girl whose eyes looked just like hers. Below it was inscribed:

"She will return, to reclaim her own."

Arya realized the chilling truth – she was a descendant of shadow.

The Final Encounter

That night, Arya made up her mind. She would face the shadow.

She went to the old village well, the place where shadow had last been seen. Hours passed.

And then… the shadow returned.

This time, it moved closer and said —

"You have come... to complete me."

Arya trembled, but gathered her courage.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I am the one betrayed by my own... I want to be reborn through you."

shadow extended her hand. Arya closed her eyes in fear.

A moment passed. Everything became still. The wind stopped. The darkness lightened.

The Morning After

The next morning, the village was buzzing – the fear was gone. People came out after dusk again. The silence of terror had lifted.

But Arya?

She was not the same anymore.

She became quieter, spoke thoughtfully, and sometimes… a strange gleam appeared in her eyes – as if she knew what was coming.

The End… or a New Beginning?

Even today, some villagers whisper —

"When Arya drifts into deep thought, her shadow separates from her... for just a moment."