It was a regular Wednesday evening. Brother was watching something on tv , and their mother was cutting beans in the kitchen. Bani sat at the dining table, notebook open, halfway through sociology notes.
Her phone buzzed.
> Subject: Your Portfolio Selects – Prasad Bidapa Studio
From: [email protected]
She quietly opened the email.
> Hi Bani,
Please find attached the final selects from your studio shoot last week.
Your files include: 4 clean headshots, 3 mid-length portraits, 3 full-length shots, 2 lifestyle candids.
Good work.
— Ajay (Photographer)
Bani clicked the link. A Google Drive folder opened. For a second, her heart stopped.
There she was. On a clean grey background. Posture firm, face steady, expression clear. Not dramatic, not dolled up—just focused. Real.
Her favorite was one taken near the window. She was in her pastel peach kurta, looking over her shoulder, soft light on her cheekbone. The frame looked like something out of a magazine—not flashy, just still and well-held.
She downloaded it quietly, saved it into a new folder on her phone: Bani_Portfolio_2025.
---
Later That Night
After dinner, as her mother folded clothes in their shared room, Bani hesitated for a second—then pulled out a printed 5x7 photo she had picked up that evening from a small studio near Majestic.
It was the same window-lit portrait.
She didn't say much. Just held it out.
Her mother took it with both hands, sat down slowly on the edge of the bed.
She stared for a while. Then nodded once, quietly.
> "Good. Looks like you."
No overpraise. No drama. But the softness in her voice said more than words.
---
First Callback: Local Designer Brand (Indie Fusion Wear)
Two days later, a woman named Rekha Shetty, a junior stylist under the Bidapa team, forwarded Bani's portfolio to a small homegrown Bangalore label—"Tamarind Threads", known for their earthy, handloom-based Indo-western wear.
They were casting for a weekend shoot at a studio in Indiranagar.
The brief said:
> "Looking for new faces. Natural skin, strong posture, not overstyled.
Half-day shoot. ₹6,000 payout. Clothes provided. Hair/makeup minimal."
Bani got the call on Friday afternoon. She was asked if she could come in Sunday 8:30 a.m. sharp.
She said yes.
---
Back Home
She didn't make a big announcement. She simply marked it in her diary:
> July 27 – First Brand Shoot (Indiranagar)
Clothes: Provided. No accessories needed.
Sleep early. Hydrate. Hair washed night before.
She packed her basic essentials: cotton pads, lip balm, safety pins, comb, snacks.
There was no big preparation. But inside, something was definitely preparing.
Bani was in her usual spot during the second period — back row, near the window. The lecture was on modern Indian writing. Outside, the neem trees swayed gently in the July breeze. Her notebook had one neat page of notes and one page of absent-minded pen swirls.
> "Rosie is not a villain," her professor was saying.
"She just wanted more than what people around her expected her to settle for."
Bani underlined the word expected. Without thinking, she added:
Settle ≠ belong.
---
At Lunch – Another Message
While sitting on the parapet wall near the canteen with Meghna, her phone buzzed.
📩 Message: From Rhea
> "Hi Bani, quick brief — there's a small fashion label that needs a fresh face for their lookbook. Simple cotton sets, full-length shots. They'll provide outfits. Shoot is Saturday, 11am to 3pm, Indiranagar studio. Pay is ₹5,000. Interested?"
Bani showed it to Meghna without saying anything.
> "Go," Meghna said. "You'll be done before I even finish this assignment."
Bani smiled. She typed:
> "Yes, confirmed. Please send the call sheet."
---
Friday Evening – Preparing Quietly
The studio sent a PDF file with:
Location
Slot timing
Outfit list (3 looks: kurta-pants, co-ord set, maxi dress)
Hair & makeup: "Soft wave / Minimal dewy base – stylist will be present"
Note: Do not bring personal wardrobe. All costumes provided.
Bani ironed her plain kurta for travel, packed a small pouch with essentials (lip balm, compact, comb), and set an early alarm. She didn't tell Vani or her parents much — just "a small shoot again."
---
Saturday – The Second Shoot
The studio was a compact but well-lit space inside an old bungalow in Indiranagar. Clean white walls, natural light from skylights, and racks of freshly steamed clothing.
The stylist, a young woman named Roshni, handed Bani a beige co-ord set first.
> "This is our monsoon drop. We want it to feel calm but real. Just stand how you'd stand at a bus stop—no posing, no drama."
The makeup artist dabbed a tiny bit of cream blush, brushed her brows, and misted her face once.
> "Don't worry," she said. "You've got the kind of face that doesn't fight the camera."
Bani stepped in front of the lens.
No music. Just quiet clicks.
The photographer didn't over-direct.
> "Look left. Nice. Chin down. That's good."
"One hand in pocket. Perfect. Stay."
Three looks. Four set-ups. Done in 2 hours.
As she changed back into her own clothes, the coordinator handed her a brown envelope with ₹5,000 in cash.
> "Thanks for being so easy to work with," she said. "We'll tag you once the edit's ready."
---
Back Home – Just Another Saturday
She reached home by 4:15 pm.
Her father was reading the paper on the veranda. Her mother was seeing tv.
It was a Thursday afternoon when the message came.
She was between classes at college, sitting under the neem tree near the commerce block, when her phone buzzed. It was from Prasad Bidapa's team:
> "Hi Bani, we have a catalogue shoot this Sunday for a homegrown Indo-fusion brand called Meraki Threads. Simple, elegant looks. ₹10,000 payout. Would you like to be considered?"
Bani stared at the message.
She didn't overthink this time.
> "Yes. I'm free."
---
Sunday — The Shoot Day
The location was a boutique villa near Sadashivanagar. A converted home with natural light, stone floors, and green creepers climbing up the compound walls.
She arrived by 8:30 AM with neatly tied hair, no makeup, wearing a pale blue kurta and black jeans. In her cotton tote: comb, moisturiser, safety pins, a power bank, and a notebook. Nothing fancy.
There were already others there:
The brand stylist (Roshni)
A calm, no-nonsense photographer from Chennai
Three other models
One makeup artist with a single vanity case
The vibe was relaxed, not chaotic.
---
The Shoot Brief
The stylist gave her the first outfit:
An indigo printed skirt, paired with a crisp white crop top
Silver hoops and a soft brown lip tint
They weren't after "bold" or "sexy".
They wanted "relatable, fresh, effortless".
> "Walk barefoot across the stone path," the photographer said.
"Look away from the lens. We're shooting ease, not attitude."
She followed instructions. Slowly, calmly.
The camera clicked.
Nobody gave her dramatic praise — but they didn't have to.
They were pleased. She could feel it.
---
Three Looks in Total:
1. Indigo skirt with crop top — barefoot, walking
2. Block-printed kurta and wide pants — sitting on a cane chair, sipping tea
3. Saree and sneakers combo — a fun street-style fusion look
The last one made her laugh. She never imagined herself pulling off something like that. But when the stylist showed her the monitor screen, she was… surprised.
She looked confident. Natural. Present.
---
Payment & Wrap-up
By 6:00 PM, they had wrapped up.
Someone handed her a cold lemonade.
The stylist said, "You're fresh. You don't overdo anything. That's rare."
Then the photographer said, "You're not trying too hard — that's what makes you memorable."
As she signed the release form, the assistant added:
> "We'll process the ₹10,000 payment by mid-week. Thank you, Bani."
Bani was coming back to banglore a phone in hand she was full of thoughts she needs money. Only yes money can give confidence.
After her tragic past life she needs to plan properly not only for her but also for her family.
In bus which she was traveling a boy was playing game yes she knows some of hit games which made people like crazy.
She wants to try anyways she has space help.