The story now moves into a quieter phase, with Akshatha, Chaitra, and the cousins all following their own paths while the family slowly settles into its new rhythm.
Chapter 83 – Everyone Finds T
As the months passed, life became busy for everyone.
Akshatha and Chaitra were both occupied with their own work.
Akshatha continued balancing her studies, fashion assignments, her games, and the other projects she was quietly building with the knowledge she carried from her previous life.
Her schedule was becoming increasingly full.
School and studies took up one part of her day.
Fashion work took some break as she was focused on her studies a lot.
And whenever she found some free time, she worked on her games and future plans.
She had become used to living several lives at once.
Student.
Model.
Game developer.
And, increasingly, someone who was thinking about business.
Chaitra's life was moving in a completely different direction.
She was now spending most of her time around television productions.
Her acting career had started with small opportunities, but she was slowly gaining experience.
The college drama had begun attracting attention, and her grey-shaded character was becoming noticeable among the younger viewers.
She was learning how to handle recognition without allowing it to distract her.
She still maintained her routine.
Exercise.
Healthy food.
Language practice.
Reading scripts.
Watching experienced actors.
And learning everything she could about the industry.
She knew she had been given a second chance.
She didn't want to waste it.
---
Meanwhile, in the United States, Akshatha's two elder cousins were settling into university life.
Few months had been challenging.
They had come from India and suddenly found themselves in a completely different academic environment.
The teaching style was different.
The campus culture was different.
Even the way students interacted with professors was different.
But both of them gradually adjusted.
They attended their classes regularly.
They made friends.
They explored the university.
And most importantly, they concentrated on their studies.
Their parents had made a major decision by sending them abroad.
They didn't want that opportunity wasted.
Whenever the family spoke over the phone, the cousins would talk about their classes, assignments, campus activities, and the new experiences they were having.
The family was relieved to hear that they were doing well.
The elder uncle, in particular, was proud.
"Let them concentrate on their education," he would say.
"They have gone there for a reason."
And that was exactly what the two cousins were doing.
December arrived, and with it came another important phase in Akshatha's modeling career.
December had arrived.
Akshatha's school commitments had been keeping her busy for the past few months, and she had deliberately kept fashion work somewhat limited.
But now the upcoming fashion season was approaching.
One after another, the major fashion weeks and high-fashion runway opportunities would begin appearing over the next few months.
Her agency contacted her about castings for the coming season.
"Are you interested?"
Akshatha didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
She knew this was the period she had been waiting for.
The previous year had given her valuable experience.
She had already walked international runways and attended castings in Paris.
She had learned how fittings worked, how designers evaluated models, how castings could change at the last moment, and how demanding the fashion schedule could become.
This time, she wanted to be better prepared.
She began preparing herself weeks in advance.
Her studies remained important, but she carefully arranged her schedule so that she could attend the castings without neglecting school.
Her mother would accompany her again.
By now, traveling for fashion work was no longer as unfamiliar as it had been during their first trip.
Her mother had also become much more comfortable navigating the fashion environment.
She understood the importance of fittings, schedules, agencies, and long days at castings.
She had even developed her own sense of style during their repeated travels.
One evening, Akshatha was checking the documents and travel arrangements when her mother walked into the room.
"Everything ready?"
Akshatha looked up.
"Almost."
Her mother smiled.
"Then finish your packing."
Akshatha nodded.
She was excited, but she wasn't nervous in the way she had been before.
She knew what awaited her.
Long journeys.
Early mornings.
Castings.
Fittings.
Waiting.
Rejection.
Sometimes sudden bookings.
And occasionally, a runway opportunity that could change a model's career.
She understood that simply being invited to a casting didn't guarantee a show.
Every designer would make their own choice.
Every season was a fresh competition.
And Akshatha wanted to make the most of it.
---
A few days later, she and her mother left for the next fashion destination.
As they boarded the flight, Akshatha looked out of the window.
She thought about how different her life had become.
She was still a student.
Still working on her games.
Still thinking about business.
And yet, she was also slowly becoming an established name in the fashion world.
The next few months would be demanding.
But Akshatha was ready.
This time, she wasn't travelling simply to attend a few shows.
She wanted to make this season count.
Paris was the destination.
By the time Akshatha and her mother arrived, her agency already had a schedule prepared for her.
This wasn't simply a holiday or a short modeling trip.
The coming fashion season was important.
Her agency wanted her to meet as many relevant designers, casting directors, and fashion houses as possible.
The schedule was packed.
Over the this week, she would attend around 20-20 castings.
Along with those, there were 3–5 agency go-sees arranged with clients and fashion professionals who wanted to meet her personally.
There were also portfolio updates.
Her agency wanted her photographs and measurements to reflect her current look and experience.
Akshatha understood why.
The fashion industry moved quickly.
A portfolio that represented a model from months ago might not show what she could offer now.
So she attended the portfolio sessions patiently, working with the photographers and following the direction given to her.
Her mother accompanied her throughout.
She helped Akshatha manage the long days, meals, clothes, documents, and travel between appointments.
---
The castings were demanding.
Some days began early in the morning.
They would travel across Paris from one location to another.
At one casting, Akshatha might meet a designer.
At another, a casting director would look at her runway walk.
Sometimes she would wait among dozens of other models before getting only a few moments in front of the casting team.
Walk.
Turn.
Stand.
Measurements.
A few questions.
Then move aside.
Next model.
Akshatha didn't let the process discourage her.
She had already learned that getting rejected from a casting didn't necessarily mean a model wasn't good.
Sometimes the designer simply wanted a particular look for that collection.
Sometimes the clothes suited another model better.
Sometimes there were only a few places available.
She simply moved on to the next casting.
---
The agency go-sees were different.
They were more personal.
Akshatha had more time to speak with the people she was meeting.
Her previous runway experience helped.
She could talk about the shows she had already done, the designers she had worked with, and her experience traveling internationally for fashion.
The professionals could see that she wasn't completely new anymore.
She had developed.
Her walk was more confident.
Her posture had improved.
She knew how to present herself.
And she had learned how to remain composed even when she was tired.
Her mother watched all of this with quiet pride.
The girl who had once needed guidance through her first international casting was now handling the demanding schedule almost independently.
---
By the end of the first stretch of appointments, Akshatha's portfolio had also been updated.
New photographs.
New runway references.
Updated measurements.
And more recent work.
Her agency now had a stronger package to present to designers.
Akshatha looked through the photographs afterward.
Her mother stood beside her.
"You've changed."
Akshatha smiled.
"Good change?"
Her mother laughed.
"Very good change."
Akshatha looked at herself in the photographs for a moment.
She knew there was still a long way to go.
But she also knew she was building something.
Every casting.
Every rejection.
Every booking.
Every runway.
Every new connection.
They were all pieces of the same journey.
And Paris was once again becoming an important chapter in her career.