It was a Friday. The month was October. Rashi was going for her routine evening walk to the woods surrounding her house. It was drizzling. A cool breeze was blowing.
There was no one around, just her and nature. Birds were returning to their nests. Chirp and click of insects filled the air. Tree leaves rustled in the breeze.
That is how Rashi liked it. To be with herself in the company of nature after sunset. Being in the woods always made her feel alive.
She stopped amid the tall trees, took off her boots to feel the drying twigs with her feet, stretched her thin arms, and closed her eyes to listen to the song of nature and feel it on her skin.
A smile came to her lips. She felt free, like she could fly and never return to earth.
She felt something on her foot. A tiny frog leaping to reach the pond nearby. But it was struggling, as its front limb was badly bruised.
On every leap, the frog would tumble and lift its head, as if asking for divine help to reach its destination.
Rashi felt its pain. She picked up a fig leaf lying nearby and carried the frog on it.
At first, the frog was scared, fearing Rashi might hurt it. Then, it sensed her intent.
As Rashi dropped it near the pond, the frog leapt forward and into the water.
Days passed. Rashi continued with her walks.
One ordinary evening, she was feeling sad and lonely. She wished to be with a friend.
She sat on a rock underneath a tree, closed her eyes, and spread out her arms to feel the magic of nature. Breeze brushed her face and ruffled her hair. A smile appeared on her lips.
She felt a tender touch on her ankle. She looked down. The frog she had saved stood between her feet.
Rashi had found the company she sought. She no longer felt sad and lonely.
They both stood there silently for a long while, until Rashi got up to walk back home, and the frog leapt forward towards the pond.
