Pranay's POV

Currently, Saisha is sweeping the living room with full energy, occasionally mumbling under her breath, while I'm mopping the study. From the tone of her voice, I knew she was in one of her ranting moods.

"Pranuuu," she groaned dramatically from the hall, "tell me what kind of college takes us on a trip and then dumps semester exams right after? Huh? And not just that! The photography expo  which we were waiting for since forever ,is scheduled just before the exams! How do they expect us to function like robots?!"

I shook my head with a small smile. Here we go.

She continued, "And then, after exams, only a one-month holiday? Do they think we're superheroes or something?!"

I peeked out from the study doorway. "Stop whining like a school kid, Aishu," I teased.

She glared at me, hands on her hips, broom now like a sword. "Excuse me, I have every right to rant!"

"And you still have two whole weeks for exams," I pointed out.

"Hmmph. Still. I want to top this time," she huffed, going back to sweeping. "No last-minute studying. I'm going to study properly."

I chuckled and nodded, "Then I guess we're in for some serious weeks ahead."

We finished cleaning, had lunch together - a light meal of lemon rice and curd, her favourite combo — and after a quick power nap, she settled down with her books while I returned to editing some old wedding photographs in the studio corner.

Just as I was about to finish retouching a frame, I heard footsteps. Fast footsteps.

"Pranu!" she called, rushing in with her tablet and a scribbled page in hand.

"Yes, topper?" I asked without looking up.

She dropped beside me, eyes wide and a pout forming. "Can you help me with this lighting setup? I'm stuck."

I turned to her. "Lighting setup for what?"

"This conceptual portrait shoot I want to display at the expo. The idea is there — low-key lighting, moody tones — but I can't figure out the shadow angles and where to position my softbox without overexposing the subject's left profile."

I smiled. This was my girl - passionate, creative, and now a little flustered.

"Alright, show me what you've got."

She handed me her sketch and notes. I scanned through them. "Okay, you're using a single light source from a 45-degree angle, right?"

She nodded.

"Try placing a black reflector opposite the light source , that'll cut down the bounce and give you better contrast without blowing up the highlights."

Her eyes lit up. "Ohhhh! That's actually smart. I didn't think of using a flag to deepen the shadows!"

I winked. "See how you got a free tutor at home?"

She grinned. "Yah. And that too, smart, intelligent, and very handsome."

I raised an eyebrow. "buttering me  won't reduce the number of critiques I'm about to give on your draft concept."

She groaned but giggled soon after. "Okay okay, genius tutor. I'll be a good student."

As she sat beside me, adjusting her notes and listening as I explained some light temperature techniques and camera angles, I couldn't help but smile. Who would've thought that love would look like this someday? Not grand gestures, not wild passion — but something as simple as sharing knowledge, bickering about college, learning from each other, and enjoying those quiet pauses in between.

She glanced up at me just then and grinned. "You know... I'm going to ace this. Because you're with me."

My heart swelled.

"I always will be," I said.

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