When your past becomes your present – because every picture tells a story

Light, Camera, Action. Bollywood is famous for its unique display of emotions, sentiments and songs. The Hindi gaano ka tadka, mixed with inspiring lyrics and some peppy beats, can lift your spirits and raise your hope even when everything seems lost. Be it from 80’s or 90’s, songs can be very powerful. And what could be a better theme than Bollywood to say GoodBye to the last teens of this century and welcome 2020. PraGun and I brings to you that music and masti through this “BollyExpress” BlogHop.

I am writing on the following picture prompt

Sometimes, we underestimate our inner voice. What we call “dil ki awaz”. We act way too practically but that voice replays from time to time. We still ignore it. But then when our past come and stand in front of us in the form of our present, we realize its power. Similar happened with Meera.

Today, Meera was happy as her daughter Vani was coming home after finishing her Photography course from London. She didn’t come during the semester break because she got a wonderful opportunity to work as an intern with a famous photographer. Her course was about to get over so she didn’t want to lose this opportunity.

Meera was sitting with a suitcase full of photographs. Were those Vani’s childhood picture(s)? No. Were those her wedding picture(s)? No. Those were the pictures that she clicked in college. Yes, she was inclined towards photography. She was not a trained photographer (but wanted to be one). It was during Meera’s last year at college when, she clicked a few photographs with her Dad’s Kodak camera for a competition. She somehow convinced him to let her use it (which otherwise used to be taken out on some special occasions). That time there were no mobile phones. And they had to wait for the entire roll to get over before they could see the final prints. She also clicked a few candid picture(s) of her family members and rest nature. Finally, when they got the photos developed, everyone was amazed to see her photography skills. They were clueless, how and from where she had got this in her? No one in their family was into photography. Seeing everyone’s appreciation, Meera broke the news. She spoke about her desire to study photography. She wanted to be a nature photographer. She never thought that everyone will adore her skills. She was pretty confident that the answer would be yes. But, it wasn’t that easy to convince her parents.

“Meera, you can’t pursue it as your career. You said you want to work in an ad agency and be independent. Please keep your career and hobby seperate.” For her parents, thinking about an unconventional field as a career option was quite hard to digest.

By nature, Meera wasn’t very pushy or stubborn so she decided to take advertising seriously and joined a few courses. Very soon she was able to get a job at an ad agency and her career in advertising started. It was a coincident when the photographer went on a break right before her first independent assignment was about to start.They had no one who could do this role. Meera showed her interest and once again she picked up the camera. But this time it wasn’t Kodak, rather a professional camera that she had always dreamt of. With this project, her agency saw her as an allrounder.

She never thought that this place will introduce her to her soulmate-Shekhar. He was leading this project. It was love at first sight. It didn’t take them long to decide that they want to spend the rest of their life with each other. When Vani was born, Meera decided to quit her job and start her ad agency. Time passed by and now Vani was in college doing her masters in Photography. Afterall she had it in her genes. Every time going over Vani’s work, Meera remembered her days. She never mentioned her passion to Vani. Now, when she had fewer responsibilities and a team working under her, Shekhar suggested her to get back to her real passion-Photography.

Meera was lost in her thoughts holding the photographs when the doorbell rang. It was her charming daughter. “Maa, whats this? Who clicked these? They are so beautiful.” Vani was surprised to see them or should I say discover them.

When she looked at Meera, she got her answers. “Wow Maa, you never told me. You were so so good. Your every picture is telling me a story. Why didn’t you take photography then?” Vani had a lot of questions.

While enjoying lunch, Meera gave Vani all the answers she was looking for and also told her about Shekhar’s suggestion. Yes, maa. Go for it. We are with you. Remember what you used to tell me “Memories take us back, Dreams take us forward”.  These photos, this camera cannot be your memories, they were your dream and you have to take it forward. And this was the beginning of Meera’s new career.

This post is a part of #ALPxGUN BlogHop #BollyExpress hosted by Alpana and PraGun and sponsored by – Unorthodoxpeeps, RangPotli, ExploreKidsWorld, SoulfulFood and, Praggatti Rao

So, get ready to read some awesome write-ups on some interesting prompts