A shower ends. On one patch, a shallow puddle lingers; nearby, the surface is already changing colour as water moves into the ground. It is tempting to explain the difference with a single word: healthy. The fuller story is more interesting.
Soil contains spaces. Some are tiny, some are made by roots and other organisms, and some lie between stable groups of particles called aggregates. These pathways affect how water enters and moves. Compaction can close pathways; a sealed surface can slow entry.
Infiltration and storage are different questions. Water may enter a soil quickly yet move beyond the rooting zone. A soil already wet before a storm has less room for more water. Texture, depth, and restrictive layers all matter.
An invitation: return to a place after several different showers. Notice puddles, exposed ground, and the paths of runoff. These observations can lead to better questions. They do not replace a soil assessment, but they are a useful beginning.
General explanation; no Mool Maati field measurements are claimed.