Standing at a busy city intersection, Ayan thought to himself—perhaps when your pockets grow light, the weight of your shadow diminishes too. Only three months ago, when his startup was flourishing, his phone notifications never stopped. Friends, relatives—Ayan was the centerpiece of every gathering, the life of every party.
But last month, when the business collapsed, a strange, deafening silence settled around him.
Last night, he called one of his closest friends. He didn't ask for much—just a few thousand. The reply from the other end was clipped: "Bro, I'm in a tight spot myself, let's talk later, okay?" Yet, Ayan knew this very friend had posted photos of a brand-new iPhone on social media just last week.
Ayan realized that people don't actually love a person; they love the glitter surrounding them. When you have money, even your most senseless chatter sounds like 'philosophy' to others. But when the money is gone, even your strongest logic is dismissed as a mere 'excuse.'
His father's old words echoed in his ears today: "Money is the staff of life; without it, even your own shadow will refuse to walk beside you." Ayan let out a heavy sigh and started walking. He understood now that an empty pocket introduces you to the real world. But from this very emptiness, he found a new, stubborn resolve. He realized that rather than grieving for those who aren't by his side today, it is far more important to fight for the only things that truly stay—his own dreams.