The evening sun was dipping behind the buildings when the front door clicked open without a knock. Meera, who was arranging fresh flowers in the living room, turned in surprise.
“Arjun? Beta!” Her face lit up with pure joy as her son stepped in, backpack slung over one shoulder and camera bag in hand, a mischievous grin on his face.
“Surprise, Maa!” Arjun laughed, dropping his bags to envelop her in a warm hug. “The trip got over a day early, and I thought why not come straight home instead of staying another night in Delhi.”
Meera cupped his face, her eyes misty with happiness. “You should have called! I would have prepared your favorite paneer butter masala. Come, sit. You must be tired.”
After freshening up, Arjun insisted on showing her his latest work. They settled in the hall in front of the large TV. Arjun connected his DSLR to the screen, and the room filled with vivid, high-resolution images as he began narrating his journey.
“These are from the mountains at sunrise,” he said, his voice filled with quiet pride. The photos were stunning—golden light bathing snow-capped peaks, misty forests, and candid shots of local villagers. Meera watched, completely mesmerized, clapping softly at several frames.
“Arjun, these are beautiful! You have real talent. The way you capture light and emotion… it reminds me of the stage lighting we used in drama school.” She leaned forward as a new set of images appeared.
Then came a series of portraits: confident young female students from a photography workshop his group had joined. One girl in particular, dressed in traditional attire with a modern twist, stood out—poised and expressive, clearly comfortable in front of the lens. Arjun had captured her with professional finesse, highlighting her features elegantly.
Meera raised an eyebrow, a playful smile curving her lips. “Oh ho… who is this? She looks like a proper model. Did she accept your invitation to pose, or did you have to convince her?”
Arjun’s cheeks flushed instantly. He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly shy. “Maa, she’s just a classmate who joined the workshop. Everyone was doing portraits. It’s not like that…”
Meera laughed softly, teasing him with the same dramatic flair she once used on stage. “Not like that? Look at how beautifully you’ve shot her— the lighting on her face, the confidence in her eyes. My shy engineer has become quite the photographer. Should I start looking for rishtas already, or is there more to this story?”
“Maa, stop!” Arjun groaned, his ears turning red, but he couldn’t hide his smile. “It was just practice. She wanted some good shots for her portfolio.”
Still chuckling, Meera patted his arm. “I’m only teasing, beta. Truly, these are impressive. You have an eye for it. I’m so proud of you.”
They moved to the dining table for dinner—simple yet comforting: dal, roti, sabzi, and the paneer dish Meera quickly prepared. As they ate, the conversation flowed naturally from his photography adventures to deeper interests.
“You know, watching your photos today reminded me of my own dreams,” Meera said thoughtfully, serving him another roti. “Back in drama school, I loved being in front of the camera too. The expressions, the poise… sometimes I still miss that creative spark. If I were younger, I might have tried modeling or acting more seriously.”
