The festival was in full swing. The streets were alive with color, laughter, and music. People were gathered in every corner—some mingling near food stalls, others swaying to the rhythm of the music, and a few shy souls on the edge of the crowd, wanting to join but unsure how. The air was electric, filled with the sound of dhols beating a steady, infectious rhythm. Fireworks sparkled across the night sky, casting their glow on the sea of people dancing beneath them. The street was a tapestry of LED lights that shimmered and flickered, adding magic to the moment.
The atmosphere was perfect—a celebration of life, joy, and connection. In the center of it all, a group of friends laughed and sang together. Some were effortlessly dancing, their movements fluid and carefree, while others stumbled, shyly trying to fit in, caught in the joy of the moment but hesitant to fully give themselves to it.
And then, she appeared.
Ria—like a vision from another world, as if she belonged to the vibrant festival itself. Her traditional outfit glowed beneath the lights, and her presence was magnetic. She was dancing with such intensity and grace, as if nothing could hold her back. Her movements were mesmerizing, and yet, just as the crowd around her grew more excited, she lost her footing.
In a split second, a hand shot out, catching her before she could fall. The stranger, standing a few feet away, had reacted instinctively, lifting her lightly and steadying her as though they were the only two people in the world. It was awkward at first—his hand lingering, her surprise turning into gratitude. "Thanks," she said, her voice almost lost in the beat of the music.
But before he could even process the moment, she was gone, lost among the sea of dancers. Her presence had ignited something in him—a spark of curiosity, a feeling he couldn't shake. He knew he had to see her again, even though she had slipped away so effortlessly, like a wisp of smoke vanishing in the night air.
The festival continued around him, but his mind was consumed by her. Who was she? What was it about that fleeting moment that made his heart race?
Roe, the young man who had caught her, wasn't just any festival-goer. There was something unusual about him—a secret, a power that most didn't see. It was subtle, hidden beneath his calm demeanor. He wasn't sure how it worked, but his instincts told him that if he focused hard enough, he could find her. Perhaps he could use his power to track her, to make sure their paths crossed again.
After all, festivals had a strange way of bringing people together—but sometimes, they also gave people the power to pull each other apart.
And so, Roe began his search, moving through the crowd with a sense of purpose. The beat of the dhols, the laughter, the colors—all of it faded as his focus sharpened. Somewhere in the crowd, there was a connection waiting to be made.
But would he find her before the night ended? Would Ria, lost in the joy of the dance, even remember the moment? Only time would tell.