MAN WITH NO SHADOW

It was unbelievable, till I saw it in the broad day light, and convinced myself beyond any doubt, that there can be someone without a shadow.

In the morning, we travel in the same metro train and alight at the same station.

All office towers are on the same side of the metro station.  We walk together through the skywalk for about  ten minutes. He takes the exit number three and I proceed to exit number five.

I do not know whether he is working or having own business. I didn’t care to know from which station he boards the train.  I never met him on my way back from office, on the skywalk, in the station or in the metro train.

 After stepping down from the skywalk, my shadow follows me till the commerce center tower, where my office is on the 10th floor.   In the evening I follow my black shadows till the sky walk. Though my wrist watch and mobile phone‘s digital display show the accurate time, I enjoy estimating the time looking at the length of my shadow. As weeks and months pass by and the seasons change, the length of the shadow keeps varying. Correlating the date, time and the length of the shadow is a mental arithmetic which I enjoy.  In absence of a measuring tape, the length of the floor tiles and the small rectangular design marked on the tiles are the readily available means to measure the length of the shadow.

Being fellow passengers, many a times we sat next to each other in the metro train. Sometimes stood in the crowded compartment, facing each other.  Reading seems to be his hobby, and whenever he gets a place to sit, he opens some book and start reading.  He never uses a mobile, tablet or Personal computer for book reading. When I was on next seat I did peep and noticed that, he read classics. Sometimes they were translation from French, Sanskrit, Greek etc…….

The very first time we talked was on a day when heavy rain halted   the metro train services for a while and the passengers got panicky.   No one could leave the train. Sharing their fear and anxiety with people around was a way to reduce the mental tension.  After some time there was an announcement in the train that due to heavy downpour the bus and taxi services in the city are affected. Metro trains will be running late.  Pumping station is doing the best to clear a waterlogged section of the rails.

As a typhoon was in the offing, I decided not go to office on that day. While returning home, I saw him in the same compartment. We talked about the possible big breakdown of the metro system and the inconvenience of so many of our fellow passengers living in the suburbs.  We touched upon topics related to eco system, urban development and disaster management. While getting out from the train, I made a passive remark “Will have a cappuccino from the star bucks in the station?”.   His response was quick and spontaneous. “I too thought the same thing. Why don’t we have coffee together?”.

We sat across the table and continued talking on subjects like global warming, carbon emission and so on.  Except each other’s name nothing more transpired on the personal information.  For next few days we did not see each other. That did not matter for me, but was a concern for him.

When we again met in the metro train, he told me about a mishap happened to him on that rainy day, and his short hospitalization. I felt sorry for him. And felt a bit guilty.  But for my invitation for a cup of coffee with me the accident would not have happened.

On that day instead of taking the exit number three of the sky walk, he accompanied me up to exit number five. We talked about weather, economics etc.

Two little worlds started communicating.

One,  a  woman, separated from her first love, who engrosses herself in, fashion, music, dance, painting,  wine and   good food.

The other,  a bachelor with romantic dreams. He loved reading, drama, painting and philosophy.

While in an art   gallery he said,  “Passion is restless in the colors and radiate to the absorbing minds.”

My reply was a stunned look.  A look of desire, and helplessness to control the passion.

That evening we had excellent French red wine and grilled beef at a Korean restaurant.

While walking to office, in the morning, wild and fascinating imaginations followed me. On way back from office instead of my shadows, I followed colorful dreams.

I looked for his image, across a glass partition at the metro station.  For my eyes,  a colorful experience.

It was not due to any philosophical talk from him. Love brings so much color in a woman’s life, and no shadow is relevant now.

It was annual get together of our office. Meant strictly for staff.  No one is permitted to bring any guest or family member for the party. Still, I got a special permission to bring my boyfriend.

For men bow tie was part of the dress code. And he wore the one I bought for him two days back.   He looked the most elegant and smart guys among all the men. Women took their wine glasses and came to the center  stage  to  dance  with him.  I was so possessive that I did not allow any woman to hold on to his arms for more than five minutes. For me it was not a party, but a heavenly experience.

Next morning was as usual. We met in the metro train. Sat next to each other. My head was on his shoulder. For enjoying the sweet thoughts and dreams, I kept my eyes closed.  Still talking some naughty things in between, to take his attention away from the book he read. 

On that morning too, while walking to office tower from the exit of the walk way, I did not notice my shadow.  Instead, colorful imaginations followed me, all the way.

While going to the pantry, within our office, I saw other women talking in a hush.

I could really make out that some of them were talking about me and my boyfriend.

I know, they must be jealous of me, and some of them may have even eyed a friendship with my boyfriend.

I felt so proud and happy. Their jealousy enhanced my self-esteem. Though I was physically there, my emotions were flying high. For the first time I thought I am much superior to all this women around me.

It was not any woman, but a male colleague who  came to me and asked “Are you dating the guy who came with you last evening?”.

I don’t wanted to say no.  But saying “Yes” is not really true. We enjoyed some outing and the regular companionship in the metro train. Though I love him, he is yet to show any indication of proposing to me.  After last evening, everyone in my office may be thinking something beyond, and I do not want to change that.

“Really handsome guy. Isn’t it?.  I feel so lucky, that after my divorce, I got such a good guy.”

My colleague was simply listening. However he did not show any eagerness to listen more. He took a cup of coffee from the coffee maker and went to his seat.

During lunch break also, I saw my colleagues talking about my boyfriend. But this time, I overheard their concern for me in that relationship. Before leaving the office, I went to the pantry to put an empty paper cup in the trash bin, a woman gave a hint on the point they discussed about my boyfriend.

“Man with no shadow”.    Initially those words  did not strike me. But when I understood more from them, I was shocked. 

After the dance on the center of the hall, selected few pairs danced to some special bands. At a time only a pair was on stage.  The colorfully dressed dancing couple, and a little bigger, black shadow of them on the white back ground  was the  effect of a special lighting arrangement. When my turn came the shadow of is of the bow tie that moved along with my dark shadow. Noticed by those present, someone said,  man with no shadow, and many repeated it.

As light cannot pass through an opaque body  shadow of that object is formed. That is simple physics. On the stage, dancer is the opaque body. If my shadow appeared and the same light pass through his body without any hindrance……..!. I don’t want to believe them.

While going back home, I followed my dark shadow till the staircase to the sky walk. I am no more in the world of dreams. The brittle tiles, strong pillars, glass wall and moving train. All real things matter to me. I want to see whether there is a shadow of the man standing at the glass wall. Unlike yesterday, now I am not searching for the colorful image. But for the man who, according to my colleagues do not have a shadow. He was very much there. With a bright smile, he moved forward to hug me, as usual. I stood like an ice statue. Then tried to bring smile on my face. In the light setting of the metro station there are not too many shades or shadows. I couldn’t see even my own shadow.  I invited him for a drink, at the coffee bar in my office tower. We walked through the skyway. I was looking for some shadows. After getting down from exit number three we were walking against the sunlight. I looked backwards and saw my long dark shadow. I looked behind him. Looked again and again ……I couldn’t see the shadow.  I stopped walking and stared at him. He too stopped and looked at me. I did not utter a single word. I raised my right hand and pointed my finger towards my shadow, and continued staring at him.

His face turned pale, eyes bulged. He tried to say something.  But no words came out.   He started to run. I followed him two or three strides. But then stopped and looked carefully whether he is having any shadow.  He moved on with long strides, and I stood astonished and breathless.

Minutes later, I turned back.  Looked at my long dark shadow.  I sat down, and  touched my shadow. No fantasy. No dream. 

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