The new school year had started.
For most students, the beginning of the term meant new books, new schedules, and getting used to classes again.
For Akshata, it meant balancing three different worlds.
School.
Game development.
And modeling.
During the day, she focused completely on her studies. She never wanted her success to become an excuse to ignore education.
After returning home, she divided her time carefully.
Some evenings were spent working on her game projects.
Other days, she helped her father by sharing ideas about television stories and characters.
And then there was modeling.
At the end of June, an unexpected opportunity arrived.
Her agency contacted her.
"Akshata, there will be a major fashion event in Paris in July. If you are interested, you can attend the castings."
She remembered her previous trip.
Paris was no longer just a distant dream.
It was becoming part of her professional life.
After discussing it with her parents, she agreed.
This time, unlike her first international trip, she was more prepared.
However, her agency had already arranged accommodation in Paris.
Her mother would accompany her during the casting period.
---
When they arrived in Paris, Akshata immediately noticed how different the experience felt compared to her first visit.
The agency accommodation was shared with other models.
It was a practical arrangement used by many young models who came from different countries.
There were girls of different ages.
Some were sixteen.
Some were seventeen.
Others were eighteen, nineteen, or even older.
Everyone had different backgrounds and different dreams.
The accommodation was not luxurious like a tourist hotel, but it was comfortable, safe, and properly managed by the company.
The expenses would later be deducted from their earnings, but because it was shared and arranged through the agency, it was much more affordable than staying independently in Paris.
The company took care of basic necessities so the models could focus on their work.
Akshata found herself learning from the other girls.
Some had already walked in international shows.
Some were attending their first major casting.
Everyone had stories to share.
---
Her mother accompanied her to every casting.
Earlier, her mother had always worn traditional sarees in a simple style.
But things had changed.
By being around the television industry and helping her father with production work, she had developed a better understanding of fashion, colours, and presentation.
Her saree styles became more elegant.
The way she matched jewellery, fabrics, and accessories changed completely.
People no longer saw her as someone unfamiliar with fashion.
She carried herself with confidence.
Akshata smiled whenever she saw her mother getting compliments.
"Your style has changed a lot," she teased.
Her mother laughed.
"I learned from watching all those costume discussions in your father's office."
---
Akshata herself had also changed.
The mysterious benefits of Kalpa's assistance had improved her overall health and appearance.
Her skin looked healthier.
Her posture had improved.
Her proportions and fitness were naturally suitable for modeling.
Combined with the styling knowledge she had gained, she looked like a well-dressed young traveler whenever she walked through Paris.
She didn't look like someone who had just arrived from another country.
She looked comfortable in the international environment.
---
The casting week began.
Every day brought new auditions.
Different designers.
Different concepts.
Different styles.
Akshata adapted quickly.
She had learned from her previous experience and improved her confidence.
She experimented with different fashion styles.
Some days elegant.
Some days modern.
Some days simple and youthful.
After several days of auditions, the agency finally contacted her.
"You have been selected."
"Ten shows."
Akshata smiled.
Ten opportunities.
Ten steps forward.
After completing the casting week, she returned home temporarily.
She would come back to Paris again in early July for the actual shows.
During the flight back, she looked out of the window.
In one lifetime, she had been a person watching the fashion world from a distance.
In this life...
She was becoming part of it.
And she still had school, games, and a growing future waiting for her.
For the next two weeks, life settled into a familiar rhythm.
Every morning, Akshata attended school as usual.
She completed her assignments on time, revised her lessons every evening, and appeared for the first few unit tests of the academic year.
Her teachers noticed that despite balancing so many responsibilities, she remained attentive in class.
One afternoon, Nagaraju visited the principal's office.
He had come to request leave for Akshata.
The principal welcomed him warmly.
"Please have a seat, Mr. Nagaraju."
After exchanging a few words, Nagaraju explained the situation.
"My daughter has been selected to attend an international fashion event in Paris. She needs leave from school for the upcoming shows."
The principal had already heard that Akshata occasionally travelled for professional modeling assignments, but this was the first time he learned that she had been selected for multiple international runway shows.
He looked at the documents from the agency before smiling.
"So she has earned this opportunity through professional castings?"
"Yes," Nagaraju replied proudly. "She attended the castings in Paris last month and has now been booked for ten shows."
The principal nodded thoughtfully.
"It is not every day that one of our students represents herself on an international stage."
He looked toward Akshata, who had quietly accompanied her father.
"You have my congratulations."
"Just promise me one thing."
Akshata smiled politely.
"I'll continue my studies seriously, Sir."
The principal smiled back.
"I had no doubt you would."
The leave was officially approved.
"We'll arrange for any missed classwork once you return."
"Do your best, and make our school proud."
"Thank you, Sir," Akshata replied.
---
A few days later, the day of departure arrived.
Unlike her previous trips, she now carried a laptop of her own.
It had become an essential part of her daily life.
Inside it were her school notes, programming projects, game ideas, and sketches for her second game.
Wherever she travelled, her work travelled with her.
At the airport, Nagaraju hugged both his wife and daughter.
Turning to the agency representative, he had already made one request before the journey.
"My wife will pay for her own accommodation."
"But if possible, please arrange for her to stay in the same apartment as Akshata."
The agency agreed.
When mother and daughter reached Paris, a representative welcomed them and drove them to the accommodation.
Instead of a hotel, they arrived at a neat apartment shared by several models.
It had three bedrooms, a spacious living room, a shared kitchen, and dining area.
Each bedroom was shared only by the assigned occupants, while everyone used the common areas together.
The agency had arranged for Akshata and her mother to stay in the same bedroom, making the stay comfortable for both of them.
The other bedrooms were occupied by young models from different countries, each preparing for the busy fashion season ahead.
The apartment was lively but well organised.
One girl was carefully steaming her outfits.
Another was practising her runway walk in the hallway.
Someone else was studying a casting schedule while preparing coffee in the kitchen.
Fashion magazines lay scattered across the coffee table.
Despite everyone coming from different backgrounds, there was a shared understanding.
Each of them had travelled far from home to pursue the same dream.
Akshata placed her laptop carefully on the desk beside her bed before looking around the apartment.
This was only her second visit to Paris.
Yet this time, she no longer felt like a newcomer.
She knew the routine.
She understood the pace.