Harshita [Stranger #38]

This picture is #38 in the 100 Strangers Project - Round 3

Meet Harshita

I was lucky to run into Harshita at a local Starbucks where I was meeting a friend during my recent trip to Mumbai, India. As pretty as she was, I was as even more amazed by her confidence and ability to articulate her thoughts - as I could discern from snippets of conversation that I could hear from the adjoining table where she sat with her two friends. A natural leader is the first thought that came to my mind as I approached her and requested her to be a part of the project which she gracefully accepted.

As we stepped out leaving her friends behind for a few minutes to find a good spot to click a few portraits, I got an opportunity to learn a little more about this amazing stranger. A team leader for a digital advertising agency Harshita looked far younger but in all honesty also far more mature than her actual years. The best part of our encounter was how easily she was able to connect and ease into a conversation. Its rare for someone to just express her thoughts with the ease that she did - reaffirming the leadership quality I initially assumed for her. A bit of an adventurous spirit she is extremely self-motivated having switched tracks from a potentially lucrative career in finance to advertising during the pandemic with a firm belief that she has a lot more to offer and is genuinely meant for big things in life.

A spiritual person by nature she loves to reflect on her day and take learning from wherever possible constantly striving to keep working on herself. A motivational speaker is another path I could easily visualize for her which she indicated was not the first time she has been told that.

Her most memorable moment was apparently many years ago. As a shy introverted self-conscious teenager, she had participated in a personality pageant competing with hundreds of other students from across schools. Her life-changing moment came when she actually won the pageant - something completely changed for her as her self-belief and confidence skyrocketed and she was a completely different person thereafter.

It was wonderful meeting you Harshita. Indeed a pleasure making your acquaintance and photographing you in this random encounter - special thanks to your friends for their patience and my apologies for sabotaging their time. All the very best for the future.

Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

For my other pictures on this project: 100 Strangers - Round 2.

For pictures from my prior attempt at 100 Strangers: 100 Strangers - Round 1.

Done